Montgomery County Redistricting Commission Clarifies Use of “Draft Maps”

Montgomery County Redistricting Commission Clarifies Use of “Draft Maps”

By EditorJul 24, 2021
Statement from Montgomery County's Commission on Redistricting Chair Cordier about redistricting maps and ongoing deliberations For Immediate Release: Friday, July 23, 2021 Rockville, Md., July 23, 2021—At the July 14 meeting of the Montgomery County Commission on Redistricting, the group reviewed and discussed different redistricting mapping tools. As part of these deliberations, examples of maps were displayed and shared with Commission members to illustrate different approaches to using these tools.Mariana Cordier, chair of the Commission on Redistricting, made the following statement on the ongoing work of the group and the maps used as examples at the last meeting."At the sixth…
Local Redistricting, NEWS, Redistricting
Read More
Study: Census Bureau’s Differential Privacy Disclosure Avoidance System Produces Concerning Results for Local Jurisdictions

Study: Census Bureau’s Differential Privacy Disclosure Avoidance System Produces Concerning Results for Local Jurisdictions

By EditorMar 31, 2021
Recent research into the effect of differential privacy (DP) on Alaska's census data show concerning results, especially for small area geographies such as townships, municipalities and other local jurisdictions. The authors of the study, a summary of which is posted in the blog for the Population Association of America, warn that local redistricting and other activities connected to census data could be substantially impacted by the Census Bureau's application of differential privacy on raw census data. The authors of the study, David Swanson, Professor Emeritus, Sociology at the University of California - Riverside, T.M. Bryan of Bryan Demographic Research, Richmond,…
Census Data and Geography, DATA and TECHNOLOGY, Local Redistricting, NEWS, Redistricting, , ,
Read More
Pomona, CA Seeks Residents to Serve on its Independent Redistricting Commission

Pomona, CA Seeks Residents to Serve on its Independent Redistricting Commission

By EditorMar 23, 2021
Pomona, California is seeking 7 residents to serve as commissioners on an independent redistricting panel. Review the requirements here. Pomona City Council Seeks Pomona Residents Interested in Serving on the:Independent Redistricting CommissionPOMONA, CA (March 22, 2021) – If you have a strong interest in the community andyou have the ability to give generously of your time, why not apply to serve on theIndependent Redistricting Commission. Commissioners have an opportunity to makea difference in the community by providing recommendations to the City Council.Commissioners serve on a volunteer basis and are appointed by the City Council.Anyone who is a resident of Pomona…
Local Redistricting, NEWS, Redistricting, , ,
Read More
A Redistricting Dilemma for a Florida School Board

A Redistricting Dilemma for a Florida School Board

By EditorMar 19, 2017
Lee County, Florida - The Lee County school board is debating whether redistricting is needed to elect a minority to its school board, which represents a county that is 55% minority.  A recent Supreme Court case, politics, and general confusion about redistricting has delayed any action so far.  This editorial in the News-Press gives a detailed discussion of the problem and the boards ongoing struggle with minority representation issues.
Local Redistricting, , , ,
Read More
Texas Federal Court Imposes Preclearance on City of Pasadena

Texas Federal Court Imposes Preclearance on City of Pasadena

By EditorJan 08, 2017
Pasadena, Texas - The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas in this ruling invalidated the city's move from an eight-member district redistricting map to a mixed map of six single member districts and two at-large seats for electing its city council.  The court's finding of minority vote dilution (of Hispanic voters) under section 2 of the Voting Rights Act includes an order to subject the city to preclearance requirements, which would mean election officials must clear any future redistricting changes to the Justice Department for approval.  Read the initial case filing by plaintiffs here. There were several…
Local Redistricting, NEWS, Race in Redistricting, Redistricting, Redistricting Race Rules, Voting Rights Act, , , , ,
Read More
Navajo Lawsuit Against Off-Reservation Polling Places Survives Motion to Dismiss

Navajo Lawsuit Against Off-Reservation Polling Places Survives Motion to Dismiss

By EditorJul 19, 2016
Utah - Residents of a Navajo reservation have filed suit against San Juan county election officials after polling places were closed in and around the reservation.  While county voters may mail-in their ballots, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit claim that there is no "in-person" voting available on the reservation, and this interferes with the reservation inhabitant's voting rights.  This week a judge denied the election officials' motion to dismiss.  Read more in the Salt Lake Tribune.
Local Redistricting, Redistricting Race Rules, , , ,
Read More
City in Orange County California Skips Court and Abolishes At-Large Voting

City in Orange County California Skips Court and Abolishes At-Large Voting

By EditorJun 16, 2016
San Juan Capistrano, CA - This town of around 35,000 in Orange County, California boasts a burgeoning Latino population of nearly 40%. City council members have been historically elected at-large by city voters, but a recent lawsuit field by a Latino voting rights group sparked debate and in the end, city officials agreed to elect council members by district; five districts to be exact.       The elections for the districts are staggered; two seats will be up this year. The remaining in 2018. Once all of the districts are in place, Latinos will comprise a substantial portion of two districts,…
Local Redistricting, Redistricting, , , ,
Read More
Augusta City Election Officials Perplexed at Running Elections Without DOJ Supervision

Augusta City Election Officials Perplexed at Running Elections Without DOJ Supervision

By EditorJan 28, 2016
In this local news story, election officials in Augusta City, GA remain befuddled about how to proceed with elections without having to report to the Justice Dept. on their every move. Apparently, the preclearance process has become such an institution in the city, official are at a loss on how to proceed. https://youtu.be/-LCuc1lRx8M
Local Redistricting, Redistricting, Redistricting Race Rules, ,
Read More