To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
From: Lisa Anderson, Town Clerk
Title
Presentation: 2021 Election District Map
Body
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Executive Summary
Per Town Charter Section 4-5, the Election Commission is required to review the six Election Districts in 2021 to determine if an adjustment in Election District boundaries is necessary based on the variance between the number of registered electors in each District as of January 15, 2021. The Charter mandates redistricting to be completed by April 1, 2021 when the Election District with the most registered electors is more than 15% larger than the Election District with the fewest registered electors.
The Election Commission approved the new boundaries reflected in the 2021 Election District Map (Attachment A).
Notification and Outreach Efforts
The Election Commission meeting was posted in accordance with notice requirements and allowed for in-person or remote attendance via Webex. No public was in attendance at the meeting in person or on Webex; and no comments were submitted.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
At the January 27, 2021, Election Commission meeting, Commissioners were presented with the number of registered electors in each of the six Districts provided by Douglas County Elections as of January 15, 2021.
The Commission determined that Election District 4 had the fewest registered electors and Election District 2 had the most registered electors. The variance between these two districts was 25% which exceeded the 15% threshhold requiring the Commission to redraw the Election District boundaries to bring each Election District within the Charter mandated range.
The Commission directed staff to prepare several map scenarios for their review at their March 9, 2021 Election Commission meeting.
Preparation of Proposed Election District Maps for Election Commission Review
Staff worked within the following requirements in Charter Section 4-5:
• If the number of registered electors in the district with the lowest number of registered electors is less than eighty-five percent of the number of registered electors in the district with the highest number of registered electors the district boundaries shall be adjusted.
• Districts shall be contiguous and compact whenever possible.
• No change in district boundaries shall create a vacancy during the term of any Councilmember in office at the time of the change.
Pursuant to Election Commission Regulations, staff also considered practical requirements as follows:
• District boundaries consistent with natural or man-made geographical boundaries (such as streets, parks, drainage ways, etc.) where feasible.
• Communities of interest preserved where possible (share a school or keep neighborhoods together).
Per further Commission direction, staff provided anticipated growth that may occur prior to redistricting in 2027. Note: This was for informational purposes only to demonstrate what numbers could be prior to the next redistricting. The purpose of redistricting every 6 years is to ensure that the number of electors in each District are readjusted to be within 15% variance.
• Staff consulted with Development Services to identify anticipated growth across the Town in order to supply the Commission with forecasted numbers for each map scenario. This information is merely noted to demonstrate areas of anticipated growth over the next 6 years. The Charter requirement is to balance Districts as of January 15. 2021.
Due to the voter-approved Charter change from seven to six Districts with a Mayor at large, redistricting was conducted in 2018 prior to the required 2021 redistricting. To demonstrate how the number of registered voters can change between redistricting, the following table shows the number of registered voters in each District following the 2018 Redistricting compared to January 15, 2021 numbers:
11% Variance 25% Variance
2018 Redistricting Jan 15, 2021 # Increase % Increase
District 1 7,488 8,569 +1,081 +13%
District 2 8,075 10,505 +2,430 +13%
District 3 7,766 10,165 +2,399 +14%
District 4 7,743 7,910 +167 +2%
District 5 7,247 8,276 +1,029 +12%
District 6 7,209 8,832 +1,623 +18%
Conclusion
Town staff provided six scenarios for the Commissioners to review; and made real-time adjustments to maps at the meeting as requested to arrive at the 2021 Election District Map that was approved by the Commission (Attachment A) resulting in the following:
1) Approved District boundaries did not result in a Councilmember changing to a new District.
2) Approved District boundaries disrupted approximately 12.4% of registered voters that changed to a new District (Attachment B).
3) Factoring in growth projected over the next 6 years resulted in the highest probability of maintaining sustained equity between Districts.
In summary, the largest variance between the highest number of registered voters in a District to the lowest number of registered voters is 10.5% which is well below the 15% threshold as follows:
25% Variance 10.5% Variance 16% Variance
Prior to Redistricting Result of 2021 Redistricting 2027 Estimated Voters
District 1 8,569 9,458 9,948
District 2 10,505 9,163 11,415
District 3 10,165 9,190 11,156
District 4 7,910 8,785 10,235
District 5 8,276 9,019 11,259
District 6 8,832 8,543 11,847
Per Town Charter, the Election Commission determines the new boundaries for the Election District Map and it becomes effective immediately upon approval.
In addition, Election Commission Regulations require that we provide the 2021 Redistricting Plan which outlines the process followed by the Election Commission (Attachment C).
Next Steps
The Map is updated on the website, sent to Douglas County Elections so that addresses can reflect the current District for future elections, and is presented to Town Council meeting. Community Relations is preparing communications to citizens via various social media platforms and printed materials to inform residents of which District they reside in and who their Council representative is.
Attachments
Attachment A 2021 Election District Map
Attachment B 2021 Election District Map - Areas Affected
Attachment C 2021 Redistricting Plan