NATCHEZ — Redistricting maps for the state legislature were given legislative approval Wednesday, and if the plan passes muster with the U.S. Department of Justice, Adams County will see little change in its district representation.

The Adams County lines for house districts did not change, but two precincts, Bypass Fire Station and Pine Ridge, were placed wholly in District 38, which is represented by Sen. Kelvin Butler, D-Magnolia. The precincts were previously split precincts, with some voters casting ballots for District 37, which is represented by Sen. Melanie Sojourner, R-Natchez.

Sojourner said she shared 14 split precincts with Butler prior to the redistricting plan.

“Early in the process they invited each one of us over and they asked for our original thoughts, and my original thought was to reduce the number of split precincts to save money,” Sojourner said.

Butler said reducing the split precincts also helps cut down on voter confusion.

Voters enter the precinct thinking they are to cast ballots in one election, only to see a second election in front of them in addition to the one they are supposed to vote in, Butler said.

“Now, when they come to the precinct they are going to vote for one candidate only,” he said.

Outside of Adams County, both of the senators saw changes to their district. Butler will now represent a portion of Walthall County, and Sojourner’s lines in Amite and Pike counties were also redrawn, with Sojourner picking up 3,000 voters in Pike County.

The new district 37, if approved will be 33.8 percent minority voting age representation, down from 36 percent.

District 38 will be 62 percent minority, up 1 percent from the current district lines, which were drawn in 2002.

While District 94 Rep. Robert Johnson’s district lines didn’t change in Adams of Jefferson counties, he will no longer represent Claiborne County. Two precincts in the Franklin County area of Roxie will now be placed in the district.

“The new district has a smaller minority makeup, but it is marginal,” Johnson said. “Adams County is the central and most dominant part of the district, and it is essential to the seat of district 94, and it will continue to be.”

District 97 Rep. Sam Mims, R-McComb, said the representation of Walthall and Lawrence counties was taken out of his district because the areas of Adams, Amite, Franklin and Pike counties he represented gained population.

“I think the map is fair,” Mims said. “I think the goal of the Republican leadership was to draw a map that was fair to everyone involved and would also pass the Department of Justice, and we all believe this map will do that.”

District 96 Rep. Angela Cockerham could not be reached.

District 94 will have approximately 61 percent minority voting age population.

District 96 will be approximately 61 percent minority voters, while district 97 will have a makeup of 22 percent minority voters.