OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. (AP, abc24.com) - Olive Branch officials expect to meet with consultants early next year to discuss drawing new lines for city voting districts.
Mayor Sam Rikard tells The Commercial Appeal that the consulting firm, Slaughter and Associates of Oxford, will use map-drawing software to show aldermen different options for districts.
Aldermen will decide on one new map, which would have to be approved by the U.S. Justice Department.
Redistricting is required after the Census shows population has shifted and there are unequal numbers of residents from district to district.
Olive Branch is divided into six districts, and a seventh alderman is selected citywide. The last redistricting was before the 2005 election. The new map should be used in the 2013 city election.
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Information from: The Commercial Appeal,
http://www.commercialappeal.com
