The state Senate’s redistricting subcommittee met on Thursday to review maps submitted for their consideration by the public and nonprofits. SC Progressive Network Director submitted our proposed maps, designed to make elections more competitive in South Carolina.

Bursey reminded committee chair Sen. Luke Rankin that he was elected with 97 percent of the vote, a clear example of the lack of competition in our current system.

“People are trying to get the best deal they can out of this poorly designed system,” Bursey said, referring to the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, and others working on SC redistricting. “But somebody needs to point out what could be and what should be.”

“You will determine what will be,” he told the committee, “but I want to put it on record that we will continue to work hard to get you to support a constitutional amendment on a general election ballot to give the authority to draw the lines to the citizens, and to get the legislature out of the business.”