Census data will guide legislative reapportionment

March 20, 2021 | By Rep. Theresa Wood 

This month I want to update readers on reapportionment.  First, what is reapportionment?  Reapportionment is the process that happens once every 10 years to review and redraw the current legislative districts to insure equal representation as required by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. It happens after the U.S. Census is completed because that information is needed in order to redraw the legislative districts.

Rep. Theresa Wood, D-Waterbury

In Vermont, a Legislative Apportionment Board is appointed and it begins the process of evaluating the census data as well as other considerations in formulating recommendations. The other two entities involved in reapportionment are local Boards of Civil Authority and the Legislature itself.  There are slightly different processes for the House of Representatives and the Senate.  There is, however, guidance that applies to the recommendations for both bodies.   Specifically, districts should be consistent with the following principles as much as possible:  1) equality of representation among the respective districts as nearly as is practicable; 2) geographical compactness and contiguity; 3) boundaries of counties and other existing political subdivisions; 4) recognition and maintenance of patterns of geography, social interaction, trade, political ties and common interests.  (Chapter II, VT Constitution and 17 V.S.A. § 1903).  

In addition, the local Boards of Civil Authority are also guided in their work in reviewing the apportionment board proposals by similar principles. 

Reapportionment for the House of Representatives

The Legislative Apportionment Board is tasked with recommending one or two representatives for each district and providing their recommendations to the local Boards of Civil Authority. The local boards generally have approximately one month to respond to the initial recommendations of the state apportionment board. 

The Legislative Apportionment Board makes its final recommendations to the House and then after considerable debate, the House acts on the recommendations or devises another plan. Depending on what the House agrees to, the Boards of Civil Authority may again weigh in. 

Reapportionment for the Senate

The Legislative Apportionment Board is required to submit to the Senate its recommendations for senatorial districts that comprise not fewer than one nor more than three senators per district. The Senate then acts on the recommendations or devises another plan. Please note that the maximum limit of no more than three senators per district is a new requirement for this reapportionment, based on a law passed in 2019.  This only impacts Chittenden County which has one district with six senators. So one thing is for certain, there will be changes in the senatorial district in Chittenden County.

What does all this mean for local communities?  There is opportunity to provide input to the Legislative Apportionment Board. For example, there is interest in the communities that form the Mount Mansfield Union School District in being part of the same senatorial district. 

We also know that there may be some delays in making recommendations and decisions because the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 data is now anticipated in September, approximately six months later than originally expected. 

More background on reapportionment in Vermont, details about the process and links to the Legislative Apportionment Board meetings are online here.

Rep. Theresa Wood, D-Waterbury, is vice chair of the House Committee on Human Services. Contact: twood@leg.state.vt.us