Panel Approves Legislative Redistricting Maps

A legislative committee on Tuesday approved new district maps for the state Senate and House of Representatives.

Following a one-week public comment period, the redistricting panel voted on Tuesday to accept the proposed maps with a handful of revisions, including one aimed at strengthening the voting power of the Latino community in Chelsea.

The redistricting plans could go before the full House and Senate as early next week.

The proposed maps, based on population figures from the 2010 U.S. Census, would double the number of districts in the House where minority voters would be in the majority, and would also increase from two to three the number of so-called majority-minority Senate districts

The committee has not yet unveiled maps for new congressional districts in Massachusetts.