Redistricting Task Force Set to Vote on Recommended City Council Single-Member District Boundaries Nov. 16, 2021
By Susan Schrock, Office of Communication
Posted on October 29, 2021, October 29, 2021

Redistricting Task Force

The Redistricting Task Force is currently evaluating proposed boundary changes to the Arlington City Council’s five single-member districts based on population changes and is expected to vote on a recommended map at its next meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021.

Redistricting is the process of updating single-member district boundaries every 10 years in response to new Census data, which now shows Arlington’s population at just over 394,000 people. During the redistricting process, the boundaries of the five single-member districts will be updated so that they have approximately the same number of residents. Arlington’s single-member district map is expected to be updated prior to the May 7, 2022 General Election.
A consulting firm working with the Redistricting Task Force presented two draft City Council district maps during the Oct. 28 meeting. One called to redraw the boundaries of Districts 3 and 4, while the other calls to redraw the boundaries of District 1, 3, 4 and 5.

The Redistricting Task Force is expected to decide on a recommended map at its Nov. 16 meeting, which is open to the public, and is set to present that recommendations to the City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 30. The public may provide input on these draft maps by sending an email to [email protected]. 

Additionally, members of the public are able to submit their own proposed single-member district maps in writing to the City Secretary’s Office by Friday, Nov. 12. Criteria are listed below.

 • Citizen Maps are those submitted to the City of Arlington by members of the public, special interest groups, other political subdivisions, or individual members of the City Council.

 • Citizen Maps shall be assigned a name in accordance with the naming convention established by the City, beginning with Citizen Map, followed by an alpha character and if applicable, a numeric character. Citizen Maps shall identify the creator or the organization that has produced the Citizen Map for purposes of tracking civic engagement, including names of members of the board of directors if the map is submitted by an organization.

 • Citizen Maps must be submitted in writing. If a plan is submitted orally, there is significant opportunity for misunderstanding, and it is possible that errors may be made in analyzing it. The City Council wants to be sure that all proposals be fully and accurately considered.

 • Any Citizen Maps must show the total population and voting age population for Black or African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Anglo and any other race identified by the census for each proposed City Council district. If a plan is submitted without a population breakdown, the City Council may not have sufficient information to give it full consideration.

 • Citizen Maps must be submitted to the City Secretary by Nov. 12, 2021.

 • Citizen Maps must redistrict the entire City. The City Council, of course, will be considering the effect of any plan on the entire City. Also, the City Council is subject to the Voting Rights Act, which protects various racial and language minorities. Thus, as a matter of federal law, it will be required to consider the effect of any proposal on multiple racial and ethnic groups. If a Citizen Map does not redistrict the entire City, it may be impossible for the City Council to assess its impact on one or more protected minority groups. Incomplete maps make it difficult to gauge compliance with One Person / One Vote.

 • Citizen Maps must conform to the criteria the City Council will be using in drawing the City Council member districts. Citizen Maps must be accompanied by a transmittal report identifying any criteria used other than that specified on the Resolution adopted by the City Council. It is crucial that the foundation for decisions reflected in a proposed plan be carefully documented.

 Click here to learn more about the Arlington City Council and to view the City Council District Map, which is based on 2010 Census data.

Click here to visit the Redistricting Task Force webpage to review files related to the redistricting process.


Elections, City Council District 1, City Council District 2, City Council District 3, City Council District 4, City Council District 5
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