POUGHKEEPSIE – With no discussion or debate, the Dutchess County Legislature approved creation of a non-partisan independent redistricting commission process to be conducted following each decennial census.
Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver was pleased to see it sail through when it reached the floor Monday night.
“We had several meetings between the Republican leadership and the Democratic leadership to make sure that we put together a law that was palatable for both sides and we were certainly very happy to see it fly through the committee and I originally thought there would be a little of discussion [Monday night] and I am certainly happy there wasn’t,” Pulver said. ”It’s a huge step forward for Dutchess County.”
As the law stands now, the legislature has the power to redistrict.
The new plan will go before a vote of county residents in the 2020 November election.
If approved, Dutchess will become only the second county in the state with independent redistricting. Ulster County adopted an independent process by referendum in 2018.
