The first of 13 public hearings on redistricting in North Carolina kicks off Wednesday evening at the JE Broyhill Civic Center on Hickory Boulevard in Lenoir.

The public hearing was previously scheduled to take place at the Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, but a change in location was made Wednesday afternoon.

Once a decade, North Carolina’s legislature redraws the electoral maps for congressional districts and the state House and Senate. The last time the Republican-led legislature redrew the districts, the maps ended up in court for most of the decade over accusations of political gerrymandering. A judge eventually threw out the maps.

What You Need To Know

  • North Carolina lawmakers are redrawing the electoral districts for Congress and the state legislature

  • The state is getting a new congressional district after population growth seen in the 2020 census

  • A joint committee is holding 13 public hearings this month. People can also comment on redistricting online

  • The Republican-led General Assembly aims to have the new maps completed and approved by late November, before the Dec. 6 filing deadline for 2022 elections

The process has been delayed this year because new population numbers from the 2020 census were released in August, more than four months after they would typically come out.

One of the biggest questions this year is over where a new congressional district will go. North Carolina is getting a new seat in Congress thanks to the population growth in the state since 2010.

Republican leaders in the General Assembly say they hope to have the maps finalized and passed through the state House and Senate by the end of November. The filing deadline for next year’s elections for Congress and seats in the state legislature is Dec. 6.

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The tight schedule could mean a busy time at the General Assembly leading up to Thanksgiving.

Republicans control both the House and Senate in the General Assembly and the governor has no veto power over redistricting bills.

A joint committee in the General Assembly has already decided on the criteria that should guide drawing the new maps. Under the rules, lawmakers cannot consider race, partisan data or past election results while drawing the new boundaries.

While making the maps, they are allowed to consider where incumbents currently live. Each district should have as close as possible to equal population.

The joint committee in charge of drawing the new maps will hold 13 public hearings in September. People can also make comments on redistricting online.

  • Wednesday, September 8 – Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, hearing starts at 6:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, September 14 – Forsyth Technical Community College, hearing starts at 4:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, September 14 – Elizabeth City State University, hearing starts at 5:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, September 15 – Durham Technical Community, hearing starts at 6:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, September 15 – Nash Community College, hearing starts at 5:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, September 16 – Alamance Community College, hearing starts at 5:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, September 16 – Pitt Community College, hearing starts at 3:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, September 21 – Western Carolina University, hearing starts at 5:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, September 22 – Central Piedmont Community College, hearing starts at 3:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, September 23 – Mitchell Community College, Iredell County Campus, hearing starts at 3:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, September 28 – UNC-Pembroke, hearing starts at 4:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, September 29 – UNC-Wilmington, hearing starts at 5:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, September 30 – Fayetteville Technical Community College, hearing starts at 6:00 p.m.