City Moves Forward with Redistricting Process
Posted/updated on: March 10, 2011 at 3:51 pm
TYLER — Following the receipt of preliminary census data, the city of Tyler has taken the initial steps to address redistricting based upon changing population patterns since the last census. Redistricting is the adjustment of electoral district boundaries to ensure that the number of voters in each district is the same; this process brings the city in compliance with the Federal Constitutional Goal of one person, one vote.
The City has hired the same consulting firm that will be used by Smith County and the Tyler Independent School District, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP, to evaluate the population information in an effort enhance coordination and ultimately make the voting process easier for the community. Preliminary data was released to the consulting firm in early March, and the firm is in the process of creating GIS maps and initial demographic reports for the city to assess. It is anticipated that an introductory proposal will be released to the public for comment by June and a public meeting will be held to gather community feedback. The final plan will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice by July 31 with an expected effective date of January 1, 2012.
“Federal law requires the City to move forward with the redistricting process even though we are not necessarily in agreement with the preliminary numbers we have been given,” shared Planning Director Barbara Holly. “Based upon the number of households that the City submitted to the Census Bureau, we believe that the final census will be higher than the preliminary count. We are working with the regional Census office to address the issue.”
