Despite push for openness, Va. redistricting still secretive

Despite talk of making Virginia’s once-a-decade redistricting process more open to public scrutiny and bipartisan, even some lawmakers say they’re out of the loop when it comes to the closely guarded process of drawing new election districts. Gov. Bob McDonnell followed through on a 2009 campaign pledge to include bipartisan public input in the process, creating a commission to craft plans without regard to politics or incumbent protection.

But that has done little to open up the process. Key lawmakers are drafting their own maps behind closed doors — to the chagrin of those left out.