Hartsville proposes redistricting plan
Andrea Crenshaw, Deputy Clerk for the City of Hartsville, points out District 2 on the proposed new map of the voting districts within the city. PHOTO BY STEPHAN DREW
The present boundaries of the districts within the City limits of Hartsville. The outline of some districts will change slightly with the new modifications. Others will change somewhat more dramatically. PHOTO BY STEPHAN DREW
The proposed new districts within the City limits of Hartsville. Some districts have changed boundaries more than others. The maps are on display for public viewing in the City Council Chambers in City Hall, located at 100 East Carolina Ave., in Hartsville. PHOTO BY STEPHAN DREW
By Stephan Drew, Editor
In an effort to remain in accordance with state and federal law after changes in population, the City of Hartsville is legally required to redraw the boundaries of their voting districts and has put forth a proposal to do so.
A complete census of the entire nation is taken every 10 years, with the last one being done in 2020. The old districts of Hartsville were in full compliance with the previous 2010 population numbers. However, the new numbers show a loss of approximately 318 people (from 7,764 to 7,446) inside the city limits over the last decade, prompting changes to the voting districts. According to federal and state law, all voting districts must comply with the “one person, one vote” rule in the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This means that one voting district cannot have an inordinately larger population than another. The difference must only be within a 10% range. With the latest census, some districts have lost more people than others. Therefore, so that each member of the City Council will represent approximately the same number of people, the districts must be redrawn. “It’s really a matter of complying with federal and state law,” said Hoyt Campbell, Director of Darlington County Elections and Registrations, “so that everyone is represented equally.”
Under the “equality standard” or “one person, one vote” principle, the Court has found that all voting districts within a state should be drawn to approximately equal population sizes. Even under the best of circumstances, the numbers may not be exactly the same for each district. Some districts will have a few more people than others but, the law requires that no one district should contain no more than a 10% population difference from another district.
“Every 10 years, there’s a census,” said Hartsville City Clerk Sherron Skipper, “every 10 years, there’s redistricting.” According to the new 2020 census figures, the City of Hartsville dropped 4.1% of its population and, after the number changes, there was a deviation of approximately 19.5%. Thus, the need for equitably redrawing the districts. The COVID pandemic caused significant delays in the process but, the City Council is implementing updates to the zones to be in full compliance with all legal requirements.
For complete equality, the goal was to have 1,241 people in each district and, these ladies came about as close as humanly possible. District 1 will have 1,237, District 2 will have 1,240, District 3 will contain 1,212, District 4 will have 1,284, District 5 will contain 1.235 and District 6 will have 1,238.
Deputy City Clerk Andrea Crenshaw explained the old map and the proposed new one. “They (the South Carolina Office of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs) sent us a proposed map,” Crenshaw said, “and then, our council looked that over and made a few changes but, we’re still below that 10% deviation.” Both Skipper and Crenshaw applauded Campbell for his assistance. “We don’t do this in a vacuum,” Skipper said, “We always get Hoyt involved whenever it concerns voting issues. He and his office are in agreement with this.” The Hartsville City Council has already had its First Reading of the new Ordinance which will change the voting districts. “We want the public to be completely aware of everything,” Crenshaw stated, “and, they can come in here at anytime, 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday, look at the map, take pictures and ask any questions they want to ask. We’ll be happy to help them.” Crenshaw humorously noted, “The lake (Prestwood) has 4 alligators and 3 snapping turtles and, it will be in District 6.”
The public hearing will take place on April 11, 2023 and then, a final vote will be taken on the issue. The Darlington County Elections and Registrations office will notify all residents of any changes to their voting district. The maps and district number changes are on display in council chambers at City Hall, 100 E. Carolina Avenue, in Hartsville.
