HomeMy WebLinkAboutA026 - Cities' Responsibilities for Reprecincting/Redistricting from Secretary of State tE ��
CHESTER J. CiULVER OF� P y HOOVER BUILDING, 2ND FLOOR
IOWA SECRF,TARY OF STATE DES MOINES, IOWA 50319
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Ta RY OF
CITIES' RESPONSIBILITIES FOR REPRECINCTING/REDISTRICTING
BASED ON CENSUS 2000
Every ten years the United States conducts a national census. As you are
probably aware, this is the year for this decennial census. The purpose of this
enormous head count is to determine how many U.S. Representatives each state will
be sending to Congress for the next ten years. The principal behind all this work is "one
person, one vote;" that is, each Representative in Congress represents approximately
the same number of people. The same principle applies to Iowa's house and senate
districts, city wards and county supervisor districts.
Early next year, the Iowa Secretary of State will receive the census data from the
Bureau of the Census. When the Secretary of State certifies the state census report, it
becomes official and the adjustments of political boundaries can begin. First the
Legislative Service Bureau (LSB) has the responsibility of preparing a redistricting plan
for congressional districts and presenting that plan to the Iowa General Assembly and
the Governor for approval.
In addition, the new census will undoubtedly show that population shifts within
Iowa will require a change in the boundaries of the fifty senate districts and one
hundred house of representative districts for the Iowa General Assembly. Once again,
LSB has the legal responsibility for preparing this portion of the redistricting plan and
presenting that plan to the Iowa General Assembly and the Governor for approval.
The next step in the redistricting process is done by counties and cities.
However, counties and cities cannot actually start to fulfill their portion of this process
until the redistricting plan prepared by LSB (State Plan) has been approved by the Iowa
General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor. At the present time, the
Bureau of the Census predicts that the official numbers will not be available until, at
least, March 1, 2001. Because of this relatively late start, it appears that it may be late
June 2001 before the State Plan is approved. Then cities and counties will be able to
begin evaluating their precinct, ward and district boundaries to decide what changes will
be needed. Although the actual data for decision making won't be available until the
State Plan is approved, the time to begin planning and preparing is now.
Because many cities and counties will have to work together on the reprecincting
in their area, it is necessary to discuss the involvement of both.
Cities which have two or more precincts will have to consider whether they will
change the number and boundaries of the precincts and wards in their city. Cities with
TEL (515) 281-5204 Fax (515) 2Lt2-5953 www.sos.state.ia.us sos@asos.state.ia.us
less than 2000 people are automatically included in a precinct with the surrounding
unincorporated area, unless the county Board of Supervisors makes other plans. Even
if they make no changes, each city with two or more precincts must submit a plan to the
Secretary of State's office by September 1, 2001.
Counties must determine whether to change the number and boundaries of the
(precincts in their counties, except for those in cities with two or more precincts. Again,
even if they make no changes, each county must submit a plan to the Secretary of
State's office by October 15, 2001.
Counties in which members of the Board of Supervisors are elected by districts
have the additional obligation to re-evaluate the boundaries to determine whether the
lines drawn in 1991 meet the requirements of the current laws. Again, even if they make
no changes, each county must submit a plan to the Secretary of State's office by
October 15, 2001.
Counties which elect their board of supervisors at large without district resident
requirements for the board members are "Plan One" counties. Counties which elect
their board of supervisors at large but with equal-population district residence
requirements for the board members are "Plan Two" counties. Counties which elect
board members from single equal population districts in which the voters in each district
elect one member for their district who must reside in the district are "Plan Three"
counties.
This distinction among these three types of counties is important to a city
reprecincting for several reasons.
In Plan One and Plan Two counties, the board of supervisors has the obligation,
authority, and duty to review the precinct boundaries and revise them, if necessary. In
Plan Two and Plan Three counties, the board of supervisors must appoint a temporary
county redistricting commission which then has the obligation, authority, and duty for
reviewing and revising the boundaries of the supervisor districts. In Plan Three
counties, the commission also draws the precinct boundaries.
Therefore, the county officials whom cities must deal with on reprecincting vary
depending on whether the county is a Plan One, Plan Two, or Plan Three county.
About one third of Iowa's counties are Plan Three counties. Because the
boundaries of Plan Three supervisor districts must follow precinct boundaries, these
counties must work closely with city officials of cities in their counties which have two or
more precincts. In order to create supervisor districts with equal numbers of people in
each district, city precinct boundaries may need to be adjusted. The last day for cities to
submit precinct and ward plans to the Secretary of State for review and approval is
September 1, 2001. After that date only the Secretary of State can change the plans.
This means that it is advisable that during the summer of 2001 for Plan Three counties
and the cities within their borders work closely together on their respective redistricting
plans.
The need for cooperation between Plan Three counties and cities in the county
with two or more precincts is especially important in counties with relatively small
populations. In such situations, if cities and counties do not work closely together, a city
may reprecinct in a way which makes it virtually impossible for the county to
reprecinct/redistrict in compliance with the law. In such situations, it may well become
necessary for the Secretary of State to do the reprecincting/redistricting for both the
county and the city in order for all precincts in the county to comply with the law.
All precinct and ward plans drawn by city councils are subject to review by the
Secretary of State. The Secretary of State will provide instructions and worksheets to
guide cities through the process of creating plans that will be approved. If a city plan is
rejected by the Secretary of State, the city will have the opportunity to make its own
revisions only if there is time to do that before the September 15t deadline. If this
deadline is not met, the Secretary of State has the legal obligation to do the
reprecincting and redistricting for the city.
All of this will undoubtedly raise many questions. The Iowa League of Cities is
actively involved in this process. So if cities have questions or want more information
about redistricting, you may contact the Iowa League of Cities.
However, for now it is sufficient for cities to know that these obligations are fast
approaching. Various entities which will be involved in the process are currently
working to obtain and create the tools needed by all participants in the process.
In order to prepare for redistricting and reprecincting, there are ongoing meetings
involving the Iowa Secretary of State's office, the Iowa League of Cities, the Iowa
Association of Counties, the Iowa Legislative Service Bureau, the Iowa State Librarian's
Office, the Iowa State Information Technology Department, the Iowa Association of
School Boards, and Area Education Agencies.
As plans are finalized and tools are put in place to assist the participants in this
process, information will be communicated to all participants, including the members of
the Iowa League of Cities.
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