Early versions of maps for some state House and Senate seats would create new districts where the majority of voters are African American. However, one state lawmaker is already questioning the legality of those proposed boundaries.

“I think they unnecessarily and probably illegally pack minority voters into districts,” said Sen. Dan Blue, D-Wake. “I need to analyze them a little bit further, but my initial impression is they’re engaged in packing in non-Section 5 Voting Rights Act districts.”

Chairs of the Joint House and Senate Redistricting Committee, Rep. David Lewis and Sen. Bob Rucho, defended the draft proposal.  They cited legal advice that included Democratic legislative leadership and downplayed suggestions that the maps involved “stacking” of a minority population.

“Increasing the number of majority African American districts will ensure non-retrogressive legislative plans,” they said in a joint statement released Friday. “Thus, adopting plans that increase the number of majority black districts will expedite the pre-clearance of each plan pursuant to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.”

Lawmakers will hold the first of several public hearings on the redistricting plans Thursday.