Brookhaven To Release Draft Redistricting Maps Tuesday

BROOKHAVEN, GA — Brookhaven residents can see proposed redistricting maps at Tuesday's city council meeting, and see if their votes will be cast in a new district during all future elections, including this fall.

Brookhaven City Council will be presenting draft redistricting maps Tuesday for the public to view following an action to address annexations east of Interstate 85 to complete redistricting, prior to the upcoming qualifying dates in August for fall elections. The maps will also be posted online to the city's website following the presentation.

Residents will have a chance to voice their opinions on the draft maps at future council meetings, which will be announced at a later date, city officials said.

Complications from the COVID-19 pandemic caused the U.S. Census Bureau to be delayed in receiving census data, which is expected to be released in late September. But qualifying dates for November elections in Districts 2 and 4 on Brookhaven City Council are Aug. 18-20, and census data is key when it comes to redistricting.

“This presents a conundrum for cities that do not control the census or the elections,” City Manager Christian Sigman said. “In order for residents to know what district they live in, whether to run for an office or whom to support for office, they need to know where the district lines are. After seven annexations east of I-85 since 2014, the City has an obligation to make its best estimation to ensure that every vote counts and that every district represents, as nearly as possible, the same number of people.”

Brookhaven City Council members approved a contract with FLO Analytics at the Feb. 23 council meeting to address this issue. The contract "will allow the city to make informed decisions and citizens to understand how the process will work to have final maps in place" prior to the qualifying dates for elections.

RELATED: Brookhaven Begins Redistricting Process Ahead Of Fall Elections

A team of population geographers and spatial analysts — provided by FLO Analytics for the city — are combining data from the U.S. Census Bureau; the American Community Survey; state, county and regional population forecasts; and local land and building development records to produce population projections for geographies of differing scales.

Work is expected to be complete by May 4, and council members will vote on new district maps by the end of June. Public input meetings will be held virtually and announced in advance.

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