County Calls Special Meeting for Redistricting

County council invites the public to discuss redistricting 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, at its Summerville chambers, 500 N. Main St.

The special meeting will feature a public hearing and discussion from council on the redistricting within the county.

After the decennial U.S. Census, county district lines are redrawn to allow for the change of population. Each district is drawn in a way that allows for them to balance population-wise.

The purpose is to bring balance to the representation of citizens to council members and to come into compliance of the 1965 Voting Rights Act as amended. This process is performed under the direction of Department of Justice.  

Redistricting plans are available for review online here, and are also attached to this article. 

The basic guidelines for 2011 redistricting include:

• Adherence to the Constitutional Requirement of one person, one vote (i.e., mathematically equal districts) 

• Adherence to state law of population variance under 10 percent

• Adherence to the 1965 Voting Rights Act as amended 

• Keeping parts of districts are contiguous 

• Respecting communities of interest 

• Attempting to maintain constituent consistency 

• Avoiding splitting voting precincts 

• Soliciting public input

According to county Administrator Jason Ward, six of the seven plans meet the key criteria. Plan 4, focusing on spatial compactness, failed to meet population balance while maintaining a minority district, Ward wrote in an email to Patch.  

Plans 5 and 7 have been selected as the best and most defendable statistically by the State Office of Research and Statistics of the Budget and Control Board.

Description of plans

- Plan 1: Developed by the state, this plan has significant changes in Districts 1, 3, 4, and 7. District 1 takes much of old Districts 3 and parts of 6 at Brownsville. District 3 moves into old 7 at Legend Oaks and Walnut Farms, 3 further moves in to old 4 at Archdale. District 7 moves into parts of Westcott, District 5 move East and West to gain population. District 2 has only minor additions in to District 5 and 7. 

This plan has highest ratio of “Edge to Area." District 1 and 3 shape and small block incursions. 

Population balance: 5.141%

Highest minority concentration: 54.162%

- Plan 2: Developed in house independently of of the state, this plan has the same base parameters of minority concentration and balance of population.Similar shape to Plan 1 with softer edges. This plan leaves Ashley Ridge High School in District 3. Significant differences to Plan 1 are in Districts 2, 5, and 7 at their intersection. 

According to county staff, there are less changes to existing district edges than Plan 1 by the state, slightly better compactness.

Population balance: 3.843%

Highest minority concentration: 54.104%

- Plan 3: This plan has modified the in-house plan (Plan 2) with changes in the urban areas. It features significant changes in Districts 3, 4, and 7 over Plan 2. Ashborough moves to District 3, 4 retains more of Westcott, 7 retains some of Archdale.

Population balance: 5.895%

Highest minority concentration: 53.823%  

- Plan 4 (not for consideration): Attempts were made to reduce shape edge ratio for District 1 and 3. According to staff, the plan technically works but very high total deviation.

- Plan 5: This plan is similar in concept to Plan 2, according to staff. Like Plan 6, it adds back the area of Limestone Road to District 3 to reduce the edge.

Population balance: 5.782%

Highest minority concentration: 54.018%

- Plan 6: This plan is also similar to Plan 2. It adds some of Ashborough to District 3.

Population balance: 3.117%

Highest minority concentration: 53.419%

- Plan 7: This plan used same base parameters but put less weight of compactness, and started with different hold constant edges, according to staff. The biggest changes over other plans are in the Ashley Phosphate and Westcott areas.

According to staff, Plan 7 offers the second highest minority concentration and the best population balance. 

Population balance: 2.563%

Highest minority concentration: 55.104%