Agenda - 03-02-2006-7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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DRAFT STRUCTURE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRINCIPLES Voters should have the opportunity to vote, in the general election, for a majority of the members of the Board of Conutrissioners. The establishment of district boundaries and any necessary revisions should be based on decennial census data from the United States Census Bureau. District lines should, where feasible, follow already-existing township lines, precinct lines, roadways, and/or other boundary lines. District lines should be as simple and as easy to understand as possible. However, in order to comply with any statutory and constitutional provisions, delineations such as including a small or substantial portion of a township or community in one district may be necessary, thereby designating the remaining portion of the township or community as part of another district, To the degree possible, district boundaries should be configured to provide the opportunity for areas more urban in nature to produce commissioners from more urban areas and areas more rural in nature to produce conunissioners from more rural areas. Any district plan should maintain a staggered term system for members of the Board of Commissioners. Any district plan should continue to provide African-Americans, women, and other minorities an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. Adherence to the North Carolina statutory requirements that the district populations be as nearly equal as practicable and the Constitutional provision of one person-one vote and the existing population distribution in Orange County precludes the establishment of one commissioner representing each township in the County. Any district plan should foster greater participation of the public in the electoral process.