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