Changes have been made to upcoming public hearings on redistricting; see updated schedule below. The next event will be held in Southaven this Thursday at 6 p.m.
The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting is holding hearings to obtain your comments and suggestions about the redrawing of Mississippi’s legislative, congressional, and judicial districts. Sen. Dean Kirby, chair of the Joint Committee, emphasized that committee members attending the hearings will be there to listen to the public, and they will not engage in debate or answer questions at these events.
Members of the public are invited to attend the hearings, make comments at the hearings or in writing, and even access (by appointment only) the Joint Committee’s redistricting computer system and/or submit their own redistricting proposals.
Revised schedule – all hearings begin at 6 p.m.:
Thursday, Aug. 27 – Northwest – Northwest Mississippi Community College, Ranger Center Conference Room 107-109, 1210 Church Rd., Southaven, MS
Tuesday, Sept. 1 – Delta – Delta State University, Bologna Performing Arts Center (BPAC), 1003 West Sunflower Rd., Cleveland, MS
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Southwest – Alcorn State University, MBA Building Auditorium, Natchez ASU Campus, 15 Campus Dr., Natchez, MS
Thursday, Sept. 10 – East Central – Meridian Community College, McCain Theater, 910 Highway 19 North, Meridian, MS
Thursday, Sept. 17 – Pine Belt – University of Southern Mississippi, Mannoni Performing Arts Center, 3057 Hardy St., Hattiesburg, MS
Tuesday, Sept. 22 – Gulf Coast – Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Hospitality and Resort Management Center, 420 Debuys Rd., Biloxi, MS
Thursday, Oct. 1 – Metro – Mississippi Legislature, State Capitol, 400 High St., Jackson, MS
The first hearing was held in Tupelo last week. A recording of that meeting can be found here.
Written comments may be submitted to the Joint Committee by email to ted.booth@peer.ms.gov or by postal mail to Ted Booth, P.O. Box 1204, Jackson, MS 39215-1204.
Those interested in accessing the Joint Committee’s computer system or submitting their own plans for redrawing districts should do so in accordance with the instructions laid out in this Public Access Policy document.
All hearings will be available by livestream on the Mississippi Legislature’s YouTube channel, and you can find additional information about the redistricting process here. We’ll be sure to let you know about any further changes to meeting locations, dates, etc. Together, we’ve got this!
