A bill to prevent gerrymandering has passed the Virginia Senate and been sent to the House of Delegates.

The bill, supported by a wide range of lobbying groups and Virginia officials, would help prevent the majority party in the state legislature from drawing voting districts to protect their majority status. The bill would likely create better representation for Virginians, but may hurt some of the most conservative or liberal incumbents, some of whom have been able to keep their seats because of gerrymandered districts.

The will would create a bipartisan commission to draw redistricting lines for the General Assembly and congressional races.

The process tries to remove politics through a number of steps. It would require the Supreme Court to nominate 24 retired judges to a pool. No more than 12 judges with the same party affiliation could be named to the pool. Then the majority and minority leaders in both chambers would select a commissioner each. Those four commissioners would then select a fifth judge from the pool to serve as chairman.

Similar legislation failed in the House last year after passing the Senate. Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine and Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling have both voiced support for the bill.