BY RITA COOK / News Editor
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ELLIS COUNTY – After the 2020 Census last year it was determined Ellis County had some disparity in its precincts.
The census was the fuel that geared the recent redistricting statewide resulting in the redrawing of lines for districts around the state. To that end, Ellis County is also required to make necessary changes too.
“The 2020 Census revealed population imbalance between the precincts,” County Judge Todd Little said, “because some areas have experienced more development than others over the last decade.”
Due to the imbalance an Ellis County Redistricting Committee was formed and the group held its first workshop on Oct. 13 at the Historic Courthouse.
“The Redistricting Committee is working with our legal partners to equalize the precinct populations based on this new census data,” Little explained.
The Redistricting Committee represents a broad spectrum of citizen-representatives from the county. The committee is tasked with redrawing the boundaries for each of Ellis County’s four precincts following updated demographic data from the 2020 Census. The goal is to present and have implemented a politically unbiased precinct map.
During the first workshop last week the committee was presented an overview of relevant redistricting law by an attorney who offered advice on local governments and redistricting procedural matters.
The committee studied the “one-person, one-vote” principle, the non-discrimination standard of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, and case law limitations on the use of race as a factor in efforts to ensure equal representation of every voter.
In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the original requirement of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that southern states obtain federal preclearance of their redistricting plans. After the 2020 Census, this year’s redistricting effort will be the first time in 56 years that Texas jurisdictions will be able to implement major redistricting plans without federal oversight.
Proposed redistricting maps are routinely challenged in court over allegations of disenfranchisement, but Ellis County preemptively partnered with the Bickerstaff law firm in April for guidance during the process.
The Redistricting Committee is scheduled to meet for two more workshops, and it is expected to have its new precinct map complete by Nov. 2. Once the map is complete, the committee will submit it to the Commissioners’ Court for approval. Upon approval, the map will go into effect in 2022.
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