Census Data Update Focuses on Redistricting

The Gwinnett County Human Relations Commission (GCHR) will host a public meeting Thursday, Aug. 11, to discuss what implications the 2010 Census data has for Gwinnett in the upcoming redistricting process.

State lawmakers will convene Monday, Aug. 15, to begin a special session focused on redrawing congressional and legislative districts. Redistricting takes place every 10 years in order to ensure political district boundaries are based on the most recent population counts.

According to a GCHR press release, Thursday night’s meeting will be an opportunity for residents to learn more about the redistricting and how citizens can participate. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. It is being co-sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau/Atlanta Region, League of Women Voters of Gwinnett County, OCA-Georgia and the Center for Pan Asian Community Services (CPACS).

The meeting will include a 2010 Census data update by Anh Nguyen and Gerson Vasquez of the U.S. Census Bureau/Atlanta Region as well as a discussion of the implications for Gwinnett’s future as a majority-minority county.

Participating in the discussion will be State Sen. Curt Thompson, D-Tucker; WooiYi Yin, OCA-Georgia Civic Engagement chair; Eugene Rhee, CPACS redistricting manager; and Fred McBride, ACLU Voting Rights Project redistricting manager. Officials will also explain how Census data affects redistricting efforts and how redistricting is affected by the Voting Rights Act. Attendees will have the opportunity to view some of the newly proposed district maps.

Established in 1990, the Human Relations Commission is composed of 13 Gwinnett County citizens with diverse membership appointed by the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners with the mission to encourage, promote and develop fair and equal treatment and opportunity for all persons regardless of race, color, creed, sex, religion or national origin. Monthly meetings are held the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. Meetings are open to the public.

(Editor's note: State Sen. Curt Thompson serves as chairman of the Special Judiciary Committee.  He represents the 5th Senate District, which includes portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. He may be reached at 404-463-1318 or at curt.thompson@senate.ga.gov.)