Citizens Redistricting Committee

New York’s Senate and Assembly majorities have submitted congressional redistricting proposals to a court that would eliminate a Democratic Hudson Valley seat and either a Republican or Democratic seat in Queens, according to two state officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Both chambers agree to eliminate the Hudson Valley seat held by Rep. Maurice Hinchey, a Democrat who is retiring, according to the officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the plan is not yet public.

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Ulster County would double its number of state senators under a proposed legislative redistricting map, but its influence also would be diminished.

Ulster would be the only one of New York’s 62 counties to be divided into four state Senate districts. Republicans in the Senate majority diluted the power of liberal northern Ulster by splitting it across so many districts, said League of Woman Voters lobbyist Barbara Bartoletti.

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While it might be embarrassing to consider how many people have no idea who represents them in Congress, let alone in the state Senate or Assembly, more New Yorkers soon may have an excuse. Even those who pay attention cannot say for sure who might take office in Albany or Washington after the coming election, because the districts have no borders.

The old borders were drawn following the 2000 Census. The new ones, using figures from the 2010 Census, should now be in place and people should be getting to know those who want to earn these important posts. Yet New York not only does not have the necessary new district maps, it also does not have any clear idea of when those fundamental documents will show up or how fair they will be.

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Veteran Democratic Rep. Maurice Hinchey in a battle with Republican freshman Chris Gibson for re-election in 2012?

Republican freshman Nan Hayworth forced to duke it out with Democrat Nita Lowey in Westchester County?

A new Orange County congressional district with no incumbents running next year?

Common Cause, a good-government group campaigning for more rational and less-political drawing of legislative districts, released maps this week showing how the lines for New York’s 212 Assembly and Senate seats and 27 congressional seats could look in 2013 if drawn strictly according to neutral principles, such as shared interests and compact district shapes.

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