More than 1,200 people apply for redistricting commission

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — More 1,200 people have applied for eight spots on the Virginia’s new redistricting commission.

But the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Wednesday that the pool of applicants does not appear to reflect the state’s diversity.

The Virginia Public Access Project reports the majority of applicants are white, male and earn at least $100,000 a year.

VPAP obtained the applicants’ profiles from the Virginia Division of Legislative Services and sifted through demographic questions that were answered.

VPAP said that 62% of applicants are men and 38% are women. The organization also said that 76% of applicants are white and 17% are black. It also reported that 2.9% are multiracial and 2.4% are Asian. Four percent said they are Hispanic.

Sixty percent of applicants who answered a question about their income level reported incomes of $101,000 or higher.

The eight citizens who are ultimately picked will join eight legislators on the redistricting commission. It will redraw Virginia’s legislative and congressional districts based upon new census data.

State lawmakers have told a panel of retired judges who will select the eight citizens to make sure they’re representative of the state’s ethnic, geographic and gender diversity.