During a special meeting of the Gainesville City Commission, commissioners approved, on second reading, an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances by redistricting the city into four equally proportioned districts. Commissioners approved the ordinance on first reading May 5. The new ordinance is effective immediately.
The city’s charter mandates adjustments to the boundary lines of Gainesville’s four districts within two years of the completion of a U.S. Census. Redistricting is the drawing of congressional and state legislative districts to adjust for uneven growth in different parts of the state. This occurs once every 10 years immediately following the United States Census. Redistricting guidelines include adjusting district boundaries to maintain an equal number of voters in each district.
The city’s redistricting efforts began last fall with a series of interactive workshops where residents learned to build maps and submit them to the commission for consideration. The new map was approved in advance of the city’s non-partisan regular election Aug. 23 where the at-large mayoral seat as well as seats in districts 2, 3 and 4 will appear on the ballot. The date coincides with the national primary election.
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