Redistricting of Spring Hill

I will try to post topics and ideas into categories. At any time that we need to revisit an issue, I will go back and edit or revise our information to reflect the situation more accurately. The first issue that the city needs to address is that of representation. I would like to thank many people and resources for the use of this information, and all of you know who you are. Thank you!

Redistricting of Spring Hill:

The "Gorilla in the Corner" of the City hall is definately this issue.


One Person, One Vote

Attorney General Opinion 05-124 Sites the following as a potential reason that a voter redistricting should be reconsidered:

Per Dallas County, Alabama v. Reese, 421 U.S. 477, 95 S.Ct. 1706:
As the plan becomes effective, if it then operates to minimize or cancel out the voting strength of racial or political elements of the voting population, it will be time enough to consider whether the system still passes constitutional muster.

We think it clear, however, that Dusch contemplated that a successful attack raising such a constitutional question must be based on findings in a particular case that a plan in fact operates impermissibly to dilute the voting strength of an identifiable element of the voting population.


Attorney General Opinion 05-124, however, does not address a similar Supreme Court Ruling that states that it is appropriate for the principal of “One Person, One Vote” to be considered at the local level, even if the position is voted at-large:

Per AVERY v. MIDLAND COUNTY, 390 U.S. 474 (1968):
In Reynolds v. Sims, supra, the Equal Protection Clause was applied to the apportionment of state legislatures. Every qualified resident, Reynolds determined, has the right to a ballot for election of state legislators of equal weight to the vote of every other resident, and that right is infringed when legislators are elected from districts of substantially unequal population. The question now before us is whether the Fourteenth Amendment likewise forbids the election of local government officials from districts of disparate population. As has almost every court which has addressed itself to this question, we hold that it does….

…Although the forms and functions of local government and the relationships among the various units are matters of state concern, it is now beyond question that a State's political subdivisions must comply with the Fourteenth Amendment. The actions of local government are the actions of the State. A city, town, or county may no more deny the equal protection of the laws than it may abridge freedom of speech, establish an official religion, arrest without probable cause, or deny due process of law.

When the State apportions its legislature, it must have due regard for the Equal Protection Clause. Similarly, when the State delegates lawmaking power to local government and provides for the election of local officials from districts specified by statute, ordinance, or local charter, it must insure that those qualified to vote have the right to an equally effective voice in the election process. If voters residing in oversize districts are denied their constitutional right to participate in the election of state legislators, precisely the same kind of deprivation occurs when the members of a city council, school board, or county governing board are elected from districts of substantially unequal population.

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Measuring Population Equality required by the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

A Guide to Local Redistricting in Tennessee prepared by The Comptroller of the Treasury published in 2001 defines the standard that should be used to determine if their exists Population Equality between multiple districts in regards to Local Redistricting.

Determine the Ideal Population
Ideal Population represents the target population total for each district. It is calculated by dividing the total population by the number of wards.

17,325 / 4 = 4,331 people per ward

Determine the Relative Deviation Percentage
Deviation Percentage represents the difference between the ideal population and a district’s actual population expressed in percentage. It is calculated by determining the difference between the actual population and the ideal population, divided by the actual population to obtain a percentage.

Ward 2: 13,609 (Actual) – 4,331 (Ideal) = 9,278 or 214% of 4,331

This guide establishes that the “Ten-Percent Rule” set as the standard by the Supreme Court in multiple cases be used as a guideline. According to the “Ten-Percent Rule”, establishes a standard acceptable range of Relative Deviation to 10%. Anything outside of 10% could potentially be deemed substantially inequitable.

Ward 2 current Relative Deviation is currently 214%, over twenty times greater than the acceptable standard.
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> Quick facts:
The latest population count shows:
Ward 1 with a population of 1,810.........10%
Ward 2 with a population of 13,609.......79%
Ward 3 with a population of 1,040.........6%
Ward 4 with a population of 866.............5%
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All wards are currently represented by 2 aldermen. Need I say any more?