Nash County will serve as a public hearing site as lawmakers continue discussion on redistricting and open up the process to residents for feedback.

The N.C. House and Senate Redistricting Committee is holding public hearings in 10 counties on proposed district maps for the N.C. General Assembly and Congress.

Twin Counties residents can participate in the discussion held at Nash Community College, Room 7104 in the Science and Technology Building. Other counties being used as public hearing sites are Buncombe, Cumberland, Guildford, Hertford, Jackson, New Hanover, Wake and Watauga.

The maps will be used for the next 10 years.

By law, the N.C. General Assembly draws the state’s legislative and congressional districts, which must be approved by the U.S. Justice Department under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Lawmakers are holding public hearings across the state to gather public input on the proposed maps.

Democrats have said Republicans, who are in charge of the redistricting process, are skewing lines to favor Republican candidates. Groups representing minorities also have argued that the plans heavily pack black voters in minority-majority districts to help strengthen Republican candidates in surrounding districts.

State redistricting leaders are considering revising congressional boundaries drawn up for District 1, which is represented by U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield.

Butterfield spoke out about the plan, which calls for five counties being removed from his district.

Information from The Associated Press is included in this report.