Easley Officials Adopt Redistricting Criteria

A steep rise in Easley's population over the past decade has given reason for city officials to consider redrawing the city's voting district lines. City council members voted Monday night to approve recommended criteria for the process.

"We've had several meetings regarding the redistricting of the wards in the city," said Easley City Administrator Jonathan Simons. 

Simons said city officials met with Director of the South Carolina Office of Research and Statistics Bobby Bowers to get recommendations for the redistricting of Easley's 6 voting wards.

"They strongly urged the city to adopt the criteria that we will be using," Simons said.

The Office of Research and Statistics recommended seven criteria:

1. Adherence to the court-ordered constitutional requirement of one person-one vote.
2. Adherence to the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
3. To ensure the districts are contiguous.
4. Respect to community interests.
5. Attempt to maintain constituent consistency.
6. Avoid splitting voting precincts.
7. Solicit public inquiries.

The city has held two public workshops regarding the redistricting of the city's wards, and residents will have two more opportunities for questions and comments on the matter during the next two council meetings.

"We haven't had the formal ordinance to redistrict," Simons said. "I would hope it will be either August or September."

"We're pretty much pleased with the way the organization out of Columbia drew them," said Mayor Larry Bagwell. "Right now I live in Ward 1, but with the new lines I would be in Ward 6. That area of town is where all the growth is."

South Carolina state law requires counties to redistrict but individual cities are not, Simons said.

"One district is disproportionally larger than the other five," Simons said. "The city feels that this needs to be adjusted."

Residents will have an opportunity to address any concerns during the next scheduled city council meeting on Aug. 8.