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18 <br /> 1 <br /> 2 The Board then pursued a series of meetings over the next thirteen months, including: <br /> 3 public hearings; <br /> 4 • Board discussions on possible draft district maps/plans for either a five or seven- <br /> 5 member <br /> 6 • Board; and <br /> 7 • decisions on specific map/plan issues. <br /> 8 <br /> 9 The public hearings and discussions led to the development of a map/plan (for a seven- <br /> 10 member board that met all statutory requirements. The County Attorney prepared a draft <br /> 11 resolution calling for a November 2006 referendum and the Board approved that <br /> 12 resolution and the election plan/map at its June 27, 2006 regular meeting in preparation <br /> 13 for a voter referendum as required by the North Carolina General Statutes. <br /> 14 <br /> 15 In the November 2006 referendum, the voters subsequently approved the election <br /> 16 plan/map with more than two-thirds of voters supporting the initiative. The election <br /> 17 plan/map was implemented with the May 2008 primary election and all Board members <br /> 18 since that time have qualified and been elected under the plan. <br /> 19 <br /> 20 The election plan/map approved in 2006 established a district/at large system for electing <br /> 21 seven members of the Board of Commissioners, and includes two nominating districts. <br /> 22 Three seats on the Board are filled, with staggered four-year terms, by individuals <br /> 23 residing in District 1 and nominated by the voters in District 1 during the primary <br /> 24 election. <br /> 25 These district-nominated candidates are then elected by all the voters in the <br /> 26 entire County during the general election. <br /> 27 Two seats on the Board are filled, with staggered four-year terms, by individuals <br /> 28 residing in District 2 and nominated by the voters in District 2 during the primary <br /> 29 election. These district-nominated candidates are then elected by all the voters in <br /> 30 the entire County during the general election. <br /> 31 The other two other seats on the Board are filled, with staggered four-year terms, <br /> 32 by individuals residing anywhere in the County and nominated by all voters in the <br /> 33 County during the primary election. These "at large" candidates are then elected <br /> 34 by all the voters in the entire County during the general election. <br /> 35 <br /> 36 In summary, five district seats on the Board are filled based on district residency and <br /> 37 district nomination during the primary election, followed by countywide election in the <br /> 38 general election. <br /> 39 The two at large seats are filled based on countywide nomination and countywide <br /> 40 election. <br /> 41 <br /> 42 2011 - Review of District Elections Map Based on 2010 Census <br /> 43 Final numbers for the 2010 Census were published in 2011 providing new population <br /> 44 numbers for Orange County as a whole as well as for the two current electoral districts. <br /> 45 North Carolina General Statute 153A-22 states, "If a county is divided into electoral <br /> 46 districts for the purpose of nominating or electing persons to the board of commissioners, <br /> 47 the board of commissioners may find as a fact whether there is substantial inequality of <br /> 48 population among the districts." <br /> 49 Population growth or decline in districts can lead to significant deviations in the numbers <br /> 50 of residents between districts, thereby compromising the integrity of the districts and the <br /> 51 election plan as a whole. Staff's review of the 2010 Census population totals in relation to <br /> 52 the election plan/map and district boundaries showed very minimal changes in the <br /> 53 population ratios for the districts. Staff prepared an agenda item for the Board, and, at its <br />