Mason District precincts will be redrawn

Several election precincts in the Mason District are being reorganized in an effort to minimize disruptions caused by statewide redistricting.

Here’s what’s been proposed:

• Whittier, Walnut Hills #1 and Walnut Hills #2 would be combined. The new Walnut Hill precinct would be the largest in Mason District, with 3,500 voters.
• Sleepy Hollow would be split along Rose Lane, with the area on the western and southern section going to Masonville.
• Barcroft would be split, with the area west of Sleepy Hollow Road going to the Sleepy Hollow precinct.
• Glen Forest #1 and Glen Forest #2 would be combined. The southeastern half of Glen Forest #1 would be shifted to Skyline.
• Holmes Run #1 and Holmes Run #2 would be combined.
• Leewood would be abolished, with part of it shifted to Edsall and another part to Weyanoke.
• Part of Edsall would go to Weyanoke.

These changes are being proposed to reduce the number of precincts split between House or Senate districts. The other Mason Districts would not be affected.

The plan to redraw Virginia’s boundaries for state Senate and House of Delegate districts will result in many Annandale area voters being shifted from one senator’s and/or delegate’s district to another. That plan, a compromise approved by Democratic and Republican legislators earlier this spring and agreed to by Gov. Robert McDonnell, was approved by the U.S. Justice Department June 17.

The Fairfax County redistricting plan, which shifts seven precincts to another magisterial district, was approved by the U.S. Justice Department June 20. Under that plan, Mason District gains two precincts: Bristow from the Braddock District and Walnut Hill  #2 from Providence.

The precinct changes proposed for all the county magisterial districts will be presented to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors July 12. A public hearing will be held July 28, and the new precinct map will be approved before the primary, on Aug. 23.

Information will be sent to voters advising them of which electoral districts they are in and where they are supposed to vote, but you can be sure it’s going to be very confusing to a lot of people.