2011 Voter Redistricting Project in Pitt County

On December 30, 2011, the Department of Justice, by way of letter, approved Pitt County’s  redistricting plan submission.  These new voter district boundaries are being utilized as of January 1, 2012.

Click here for an updated District Map

What is Voter Redistricting?

Redistricting - The process of redrawing the state, federal and local election districts.

(As Defined By the US Census Bureau)
"Another major use for decennial census data is for geographically defining state legislative districts, a “redistricting” process that begins in 2011. The census data allow state officials to realign congressional and state legislative districts in their states, 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." Recently released 2010 Census data are also used by local governments to determine the need for redistricting and to ensure federal compliance if boundaries are realigned.

On April 4th, 2011, Planning and Legal staff provided information regarding the redistricting project to the Board of County Commissioners. Due to the imbalance of population growth over the past decade, the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) adopted a resolution to begin the redistricting process in Pitt County and gave authorization to seek outside legal counsel.  The Pitt County Board of Education (BOE) has also elected to follow the Board of County Commissioner’s (BCC) redistricting process.

BCC Adopted Resolution
BOE Adopted Resolution

During the July 11, 2011 Board of County Commissioners Meeting, Planning and Legal staff presented proposed redistricting Plan 1-B. The BCC authorized staff to proceed with Public Input Sessions which are intended to allow the public to review and make comments and suggestions regarding the proposed plan. The Public Input Sessions were open-house format with time to review the proposed map, followed by a brief presentation at 6 pm. The public input sessions were held in the following locations:

Thursday, July 28, 2011 - Town of Winterville, Town Assembly Room
Tuesday, August 2, 2011 - Board of County Commissioner Auditorium, 1717 W 5th Street
Thursday, August 4, 2011 - North Pitt High School, Auditorium & Gym Commons Area
Monday, August 8, 2011 - Farmville Town Hall, Courthouse
Tuesday, August 9, 2011 - Ayden Grifton High School, Cafeteria

View Proposed Plan 1-B (As presented to Board of County Commissioners on July 11, 2011.)
View Plan 1-B Statistics
View Summary of District Changes

Download a Copy of the July 11th, 2011 Voter Redistricting Project Presentation
(As presented to Board of County Commissioners on July 11, 2011.)

Download Project Schedule

January	Installed Districting Extension for ArcGIS on Planning computers
February	Established procedures, criteria and rules for the establishment of district boundaries.
February 28th	Met with County Legal Department to discuss public record laws, involvement with other County departments, procedures, criteria and rules for the establishment of district boundaries, outside legal services, overall redistricting schedule.
By March 3rd	Receive Public Law data for Pitt County from the US Census Bureau.
March 4th  - 18th	Analyze public law data with current voting districts to determine redistricting goals.
March 28th	Present preliminary report to Board of Commissioners showing Census 2010 data for existing voter districts.
April 4th	Board of Commissioners Adoption of Resolution to proceed with redrawing of voter districts based on established criteria.  Seek BCC approval of obtaining outside legal services.
May 2nd	Board of Education Adoption of Resolution to participate in Board of Commissioners’ redistricting process.
June 20th	Presentation by outside legal counsel.  Planning Department completes draft redistricting maps and presents draft map to Board of Commissioners for review and input.
July 11th	BCC authorized staff to proceed with Public Input Sessions and authorized the release of Redistricting Plan 1-B for public comments and suggestions.
August 1st	Planning Department presents recommended Plan 1-B to Board of Education.
July 28th & August 2nd, 4th, 8th & 9th	Board of Commissioners and Board of Education hold Public Input Session(s) to receive public input.
Late Summer	Board of Commissioners and Board of Education adopt final redistricting map to be forwarded, along with other information, to outside legal counsel for review before submittal to Department of Justice.
Late Summer/Early Fall	Outside legal counsel completes review of redistricting package.
Fall	Target date to submit final redistricting map to Department of Justice for preclearance (allows for a mandated 60-day review).
Early Winter	Anticipated Department of Justice Approval NOTE: By way of letter on December 30, 2011, Pitt County received word that the Attorney General "does not interpose any objection" to the proposed redistricting plan.
February 13, 2012	First date to file for place on ballot.  Filing begins at noon.
February 29, 2012	Last date to file for place on ballot.  Filing ends at noon.
May 2012	Election Day (Primaries)

 

 

If you would like more information, please contact the Pitt County Planning Department at 252.902.3250.