(AP) -- South Carolina senators have given key approval for new district lines for 46 Senate seats.
The 33-0 vote Wednesday came with little debate after senators approved minor changes to the plan.
A final vote is expected Thursday.
Redistricting is required every 10 years so political boundaries are adjusted to Census population shifts. The plans require federal approval.
The American Civil Liberties Union proposed last week drawing those maps to create a new black majority district and to protect a second district with a black majority.
But senators rejected those proposals. The plan the Senate is considering has nine black majority districts instead of the 11 the ACLU wanted.
The House also gave final approval Wednesday to a redistricting plan for its 124 seats.
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