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LAW OFFICES <br />COLEMAN, GLEDHILL., HARGRAVE & PEEK <br />A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION <br />129 E 7RYON STREET <br />P-O.. DRAWER 1529 <br />HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27218 <br />919-7322196 <br />FAX 919-7327997 <br />wunvagandhcom <br />October 26, 2Q05 <br />Moses Carey, Jr., Chair <br />Valerie P. Foushee <br />Alice M. Gordon <br />Stephen Halkiotis <br />Barry ~7acobs <br />Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />Post Office Box 8181 <br />Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 <br />FROM THE DESK OF <br />GEOFFREY E. GLEDHILL <br />E-MAIL s~oP cmledhdlCv~6mndh mm <br />RE: Redistricting in a District Election System <br />Dear Board Members: <br />This letter summarizes how redistricting would work were <br />Orange County to elect its Commissioners in whole or in part by <br />(1) districts for the purpose of nominating or electing persons <br />to the Board of Commissioners or (2) districts for residency <br />purposes only, <br />North Carolina General Statute § 153A-22 contains the <br />requirement and the process of redistricting where electoral <br />districts are for the purpose of nominating or electing persons <br />to the Board of Commissioners. Generally speaking, it creates a <br />standard of "substantial inequality of population among the <br />districts," and provides that the Board of Commissioners, by <br />resolution, can redefine the electoral districts in response to <br />substantial inequality of population among the districts, The <br />"redefined" electoral districts, after redistricting, must be <br />"as nearly equal as practicable." And, the redefined electoral <br />districts must meet the constitutional, one person one vote <br />requirement. <br />If a district plan approved by the voters is a residency <br />only one, there is no statutory mechanism for redistricting by <br />resolution of the Board of Commissioners. "Redistricting" would <br />have to be done either by another referendum creating the <br />redefined districts or by special act or authority of the <br />