WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ELKMONT SCHOOL?

Limestone County school board members were told Tuesday the time has arrived for them to redraw school district lines in order to ensure fair representation of all residents.

Limestone County Board of Registrars Chairman Lee Liveoak and Registrar Joel Glaze made a brief presentation to board members before the regular monthly meeting.

“We don’t control how to lay out the precincts,” Liveoak said after the meeting. “We offer them a little encouragement on the problems we encounter, but it’s up to them to do it.”

Redistricting is required by the U.S. Voting Rights Act after each 10-year census to ensure equal representation. Failing to redraw lines could result in a lawsuit.

Limestone County has 82,000 residents, four commission districts and seven school board districts. Under the Voting Rights Act, there cannot be a disparity of more than 5 percent between the districts. In order to achieve districts of equal population, lines must be redrawn, especially in areas of rapid growth.

Liveoak told board members Tuesday that in the past, lines were redrawn without input from the Board of Registrars, resulting in overlapping boundaries of 28 county precincts, four County Commission, two state Senate, three state House and one congressional Senate and House voting districts. There were also seven school board districts. All of this created many ballot types for elections. It also created pockets in which individuals could be identified as to the way they voted, which violates their fundamental right to secrecy.

Liveoak said the Registrars corrected that problem and the corrections were approved by the Justice Department.

However, to avoid the same problems, he asked board members to give the Registrars a draft of their redrawn lines before the plan is sent to the Justice Department so the Registrars can make recommendations to prevent such problems in the future.

Superintendent Dr. Barry Carroll asked board members if they wanted to try to redraw the lines themselves or hire a demographer to help them. Board President Earl Glaze said he believed the board could do the job. He suggested contacting County Engineer Richard Sanders’ office for assistance in obtaining the census numbers.

Liveoak and Joel Glaze gave the board some guidelines to use when redrawing the lines.

• They recommended cleaning up the 1,6 and 7 lines and the District 1,2 and 3 lines because three beat boxes — 0203 at Capshaw Baptist Church, 0302 at Johnson Elementary School and 1001 at Round Island Baptist Church — have three school board districts each.

• They warned board members not to create voting precincts with fewer than 20 people because a voter could have his or her vote compromised. For example, Liveoak said if there are 20 people in a box, and there is low turnout, there may be three or fewer people voting in the precinct or sub box. Because that information is available, the voter’s decision could be learned by someone.

• They also asked board members to use precinct part descriptions — a series of numbers — used by Registrars.

Liveoak also reminded residents that it is not too early to update their voter registration at the Courthouse Annex at 100 S. Clinton St. or online at the secretary of state’s website.

Source:  Jean Cole - Athens News Courier