Redistricting

The City of North Charleston has received word from the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice that the Attorney General does not interpose any objection to the City Council redistricting plan submitted in late June 2011.

The decennial census data allows for the realignment of City Council districts, taking into account population shifts since the last census and assuring equal representation for their constituents in compliance with the “one-person, one-vote” principle of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

NEW COUNCIL DISTRICT MAP

Individual Council District Maps Neighborhoods within proposed map (by color)

Public Hearing Schedule

Monday, May 23, 6:00 pm - North Charleston City Hall, Council Chambers
Tuesday, May 24, 6:30 pm - Chicora Elementary School Auditorium
Tuesday, May 31, 6:30 pm - Fort Dorchester High School Cafeteria
Wednesday, June 1, 6:30 pm - Lambs Elementary School Cafeteria
Thursday, June 2, 6:30 pm - Northwoods Community Center Gym

Submit Comments: If you are unable to attend one of the meetings above, you may submit your comments online by clicking this link.  All input will become part of the public record.

Objective 1: Equalize District Sizes

It is necessary to "rebalance" district sizes periodically so that a vote in one district has the same weight as a vote in all others.  The Census, which counts population every 10 years, typically reveals population shifts resulting in varying council district sizes.  In turn, the Census allows for the accurate drawing of new map lines based on those shifts.

Objective 2: Minority Fairness

According to the 1965 Voting Rights Act, election plans are required to be drawn in a way that is fair to minorities.  Section 5 of the Act requires that selecte states (including South Carolina) get "pre-clearance" from the US Justice Department or Federal Court before making any official change to its election plan. 

May 23, 2011 Public Hearing

A public hearing was held on Monday, May 23, 2011, in which City Attorney Brady Hair gave a presentation and received public comments on the proposed redistricting plan. Future public hearings will be held as the redistricting process continues.

April 20, 2011 Public Hearing

A public hearing was held on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, in which City Attorney Brady Hair gave a presentation on the redistricting process and discussed the 2010 Census data.  Future public hearings will be held as the redistricting process continues.


Video streaming by Ustream

Below you will find the PowerPoint presentation used by Mr. Hair.

  2010 Census            
District Total Deviation White White % Black Black % Other Other %
1 23791 14,046 14519 61.03 6949 29.21 2323 0.10
2 11132 1,387 4236 38.05 4715 42.36 2181 0.20
3 11309 1,564 6489 57.38 3698 32.7 1122 0.10
4 8348 -1,397 4054 48.56 3357 40.21 937 0.11
5 7759 -1,986 1776 22.89 4945 63.73 1038 0.13
6 5770 -3,975 1433 24.84 3919 67.92 418 0.07
7 8502 -1,243 2265 26.64 4470 52.58 1767 0.21
8 7397 -2,348 3765 50.9 2972 40.18 660 0.09
9 5879 -3,866 1456 24.77 4078 69.37 345 0.06
10 7562 -2,183 517 6.84 6844 90.51 201 0.03
  97,449   40,510 42 45,947 47 10,992 11