Alaskans for Fair Redistricting released a statement last week calling the Redistricting Board’s Amended Proclamation Plan “terrible.” Vince Beltrami is the co-chair of AFFR. He says the latest plan could result in the loss of a protected seat in proposed district 38, which pairs urban communities in Fairbanks with rural communities as far out as the Bering Sea Coast.
Beltrami says if the district loses its benchmark seat, the Voting Rights Act will no longer apply in that district and the change would be permanent.
Taylor Bickford is the executive Director of the Alaska Redistricting Board. He says AFFR has no reason for concern.
With the June First filing deadline over, Vince Beltrami says he is also concerned about the timeline.
The Redistricting Board’s current plan is still awaiting approval from the Department of Justice. The Board sent their most recent plan to the Department on May 25th. DOJ has 60 days to consider it.
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