(F) Ensuring that districts are contiguous (except to the extent necessary to include any area which is surrounded by a body of water). (2) Factors prohibited from consideration In developing the redistricting plan for the State, the independent redistricting commission may not take into consideration any of the following factors, except to the extent necessary to comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965: (A) The voting history of the population of a Congressional district, except that the commission may take such history into consideration to the extent necessary to comply with any State law which requires the establishment of competitive Congressional districts. (B) The political party affiliation of the population of a district. (C) The residence of incumbent Members of the House of Representatives in the State. (3) Solicitation of public input in development of plans The commission shall solicit and take into consideration comments from the public in developing the redistricting plan for the State by holding meetings in representative geographic regions of the State at which members of the public may provide such input, and by otherwise soliciting input from the public (including redistricting plans developed by members of the public) through the commission Internet site and other methods. (4) Public notice of plans prior to submission to legislature Not fewer than 7 days prior to submitting a redistricting plan to the legislature of the State under subsection (c)(1), the commission shall post on the commission Internet site and cause to have published in newspapers of general circulation throughout the State a notice containing the following information: (A) A detailed version of the plan, including a map showing each Congressional district established under the plan and the voting age population by race of each such district. (B) A statement providing specific information on how the adoption of the plan would serve the public interest. (C) Any dissenting statements of any members of the commission who did