With election season gearing up, the Haywood County Board of Elections has been busy implementing updated N.C. House of Representatives and N.C. Senate maps approved by the state legislature.

“Most of the nearly 42,000 voters in Haywood County were affected by this process, said Robert Inman, Haywood County Director of Elections. "The biggest change is that all residents in Haywood County are now represented by NC Senate District 50.”

Prior to redistricting Haywood County was split with two Senate districts.  House District 47, which is currently represented by Sen. Ralph Hise and House District 50, a seat currently represented by Sen. Jim Davis.

There was also a significant change to the split between House of Representatives Districts 118, currently held by Rep. Ray Rapp, and 119, ...