PROVIDENCE – The process of redrawing Rhode Island’s congressional and legislative districts began Tuesday with questions of demographics, race and politics.
In their first meeting as a group, the mix of lawmakers and members of the public selected to oversee the redistricting were briefed on the major demographic changes in Rhode Island in the last decade by consultant Kimball Brace of Election Data Services Inc.
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Those major changes, reflected in the 2010 census, include a loss of population in Warwick, Newport County and many towns in the southern half of the state, with corresponding gains in Providence County.
Another issue discussed Tuesday was how to account for towns, such as Block Island, where there are more registered voters than permanent residents.
The commission, which plans to finish its work before the end of the year and propose legislation district lines in January, will solicit comments from citizens around the state at public hearings on the following dates:
The commission also scheduled five meetings to conduct its business following those hearings. Those meetings will all take place in Room 313 on the third floor of the Statehouse on the following dates:
