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Home My WebLink AboutA036 - Secretary of State Information on representation when redistricting or reprecincting T4-,districting & Reprecincting FAQ Page 3 of 6 E ' terms of the supervisors representing the old districts 1 and 2 will both expire on January 1, 2013. District 1 will be on the ballot in 2012 for the regular four-year term and district 2 will be on the ballot in 2012 for a two-year term. If the supervisor representing old district 2 that now lives in district 1 decides not to move but still wants to be on the board of supervisors, that supervisor will need to run for the new district 1 seat with the four-year term. If the supervisor wants to represent the new district 2, they will have to move and run for a two-year term representing the new district 2. [§331.209(1), 331.2101 Any at-large seats will continue to be elected as currently scheduled. For a map illustration, see Holdover District Example. • School Director Districts If more than one incumbent director resides in the same district after redistricting, both terms of office will expire at the organizational meeting of the board of directors following the 2013 regular school election. For example, a school district has 5 directors elected by district. Districts 1, 3, and 5 are all three scheduled to be on the ballot in 2013. Districts 2 and 4 end on January 1, 2015 are scheduled to appear on the ballot again in 2015. After redistricting, the directors in districts 1 and 2 both live in district 1, so the terms of the directors representing the old districts 1 and 2 will both expire after the 2013 regular school election. District 1 will be on the ballot in 2013 for the regular four-year term and district 2 will be on the ballot in 2013 for a two-year term. If the director representing old district 2 that now lives in district 1 decides not to move but still wants to be on the school board, that director will need to run for the new district 1 seat with the four-year term. If the director wants to represent the new district 2, they will have to move and run for a two-year term representing the new district 2. Any at-large seats will continue to be elected as currently scheduled. For a map illustration, see Holdover District Example. C • City Council Wards If more than one inc ent council member resides in the same ward after terms of office will expire on January 1, 2014. For example, a city has 5 wards. The terms in wards 1, 3, and 5 end on January 1, 2014, and all three of the seats are scheduled to be on the ballot in 2013. The terms in wards 2 and 4 end on January 1, 2016, and are scheduled to appear on the ballot again in 2015. After reprecincting, the council members in ward 1 and 2 both live in ward 1, so the terms of the council members representing the old wards 1 and 2 will both expire on January 1, 2014. Ward 1 will be on the ballot in 2013 for the regular four-year term and ward 2 will be on the ballot in 2013 for a two-year term. If the council member representing old ward 1 that now lives in ward 2 decides not to move but still wants to be on the city council, that council member will need to run for http://www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/redistrietreprecinct/faq.html 9/16/2011 Redistricting & Reprecincting FAQ Page 4 of 6 the new ward 2 seat with the four-year term. If the council member wants to represent the new ward 2, they will have to move and run for a two-year term representing the new ward 2. Any at-large seats will continue to be elected as currently scheduled. For a map illustration, see Holdover District Example. rtolD 6. What happens if a vacancy occurs in a U.S. Representative, state senator or state house seat before the new districts become effective? A special election will be held pursuant to Iowa Code §69.14. The vacancy will be filled from the same district which elected the representative or senator whose seat is vacant, not from the new district. 7. Why did Iowa lose a congressional district? Under federal law, each state is apportioned seats in the U.S. House of Representatives based on the results of the federal decennial census using a "method of equal proportions." Even though Iowa's population grew over the past ten years, the population growth in other states was greater. [2 U.S.C. §2a(a)] 8. When can counties, cities, and schools file their plans with the SOS? Counties and cities cannot file their reprecincting and/or redistricting plans with the Secretary of State until the new Congressional and legislative boundary plans have been signed by governor. After this date, counties and cities may begin filing. City plans must be filed by September 1, 2011. County plans must be filed by October 15, 2011. Schools may begin filing their redistricting plans November 15, 2011, and they must be filed by May 12, 2012. 9. What is the penalty or fee if a city, county, or school does not file a plan? If the Secretary of State's Office determines a city council, county board of supervisors or temporary redistricting commission, or school board failed to make the required changes by the deadline, the Secretary of State's Office must make or ensure the necessary changes are made. The appropriate entity will be assessed the cost to make the changes. [§49.7, 275.23A(3), 331.209(4), 331.210] stop 10. Can a city or county challenge their population count? Yes. For more information, visit the Census Bureau's official webpage: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/about/cqr.phr). http://www.sos.state.la.Lis/elections/redistrictreprecinct/faq.html 9/16/2011 -Redistricting &Reprecincting FAQ Page 1 of 6 Home Voter/Elections Other Election Information Redistricting &Reprecincting FAQ Voter/Elections Information for Voters Information for Candidates Information for County Auditors School Secretary&City Clerk Info Other Election Information Alphabetical Index Redistricting & Reprecincting FAQ 1. What is redistricting and reprecincting? 2. When will legislative and congressional boundaries become effective? 3. Will my polling place change? 4. What is a holdover senate district? About tlW Ulh(,c 5. What happens if more than one incumbent lives in the same county supervisor district, school board director district or city ward after redistricting? rul Lir kt; 6. What happens if a vacancy occurs in a U.S. Representative, state senator or state house seat before the new districts become effective? 7. Why did Iowa lose a congressional district? 8. When can counties cities and school file their plans with the SOS? 9. What is the penalty or fee if a city, county, or school does not file a plan? 10. Can a city or county challenge their population count? 11. Can a member of the public challenge the precinct boundaries or the district boundaries? 12. Why should Plan 2 and 3 counties draw supervisor district boundaries before the cities in the county draw their precinct boundaries? 1. What is redistricting and reprecincting? Redistricting is the redrawing of congressional, legislative, county supervisor, city ward, and school director district boundaries. Reprecincting is the redrawing of precinct boundaries. Both processes occur after every federal decennial census. [2 U.S.C. §2a(a); Iowa Constitution, Article III, Sec. 34, §42.3, 49.7] 2. When will legislative and congressional boundaries become effective? The deadline for the General Assembly to pass the plan establishing new congressional and legislative district boundaries is September 1, 2011. [Iowa Constitution, Article III, Sec. 35] New boundaries become effective for the General Election in 2012 for terms beginning in January 2013. 3. Will my polling place change? Maybe. The location of a polling place is decided by the county auditor. Polling places must be as centrally located within precinct boundaries as possible. If the precinct boundaries change after reprecincting, the county auditor may decide to move the polling place to best http://www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/redistrictreprecinct/faq.html 9/16/2011 Redistricting & Reprecincting FAQ Page 5 of 6 11. Can a member of the public challenge the precinct boundaries or the district boundaries? • U.S. Representative District Boundaries No. No formal legal process exists for challenging U.S. representative district boundaries. However, the state temporary redistricting commission must hold at least three public hearings throughout the state on the proposed plan it submits to the General Assembly. [§42.6(3)] • State Senate and Representative District Boundaries No. No formal legal process exists for challenging state senate and representative district boundaries. However, the state temporary redistricting commission must hold at least three public hearings throughout the state on the proposed plan it submits to the General Assembly. [§42.6(3)] • City Precinct and/or Ward Boundaries No. No formal legal process exists for challenging city precinct and/or ward boundaries. However, the city council must hold a public hearing before adopting the final precinct and ward boundaries. [§49.5] • School Director Districts No. No formal legal process exists for challenging school director district boundaries. However, eligible electors in the school district may petition for a special election to approve or disapprove of the school board's plan to change the method of election and/or the number of directors if the school board did not provide for a special election. The petition must be filed with the board's secretary and meet the following requirements: o Filed by the 28th day following the board's action o Contain a minimum of 30 percent of the total number of voters at the last regular school election or 100, whichever is greater If a petition is filed, the board may either rescind its action or direct the county auditor to submit the question at a special election. [§275.23A(2)] 12. Why should Plan 2 and 3 counties draw supervisor district boundaries before the cities in the county draw their precinct boundaries? The SOS Office recommends supervisor district boundaries be drawn before city precinct boundaries simply for ease. Supervisor district boundaries have more requirements, specifically population variation requirements, than city precinct boundaries. http://www.sos.state.1a.tis/elections/redistrictreprecinct/faq.html 9/16/2011 Redistricting & Reprecincting FAQ Page 6 of 6 However, city precinct boundary plans are due 30 days before county plans, so the county and cities should work together to ensure both the legal requirements and deadlines are met. 'r ttn Home I State of Iowa I Site Map IDisclaimerl Contact Us http://www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/redistrictreprecinct/faq.html 9/16/2011 AGENDA SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL SEPTEMBER 20, 2011 CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 p.m. 1. Resolution setting date of public hearing for October 25, 2011, on CDBG 2011-12 Amended Action Plan 2. Council Workshop on Landscaping Requirements 3. Council Workshop on Fats, Oils, and Grease Program COMMENTS: ADJOURNMENT: