The Redistricting Task Force believes the following criteria for reapportionment is reflective of governing legislation, as well as local community interest. Your Board of County Commissioners has adopted these as the guiding rationale and philosophy against which alternatives will be measured throughout the redistricting process.

• Commission districts should have equal population to comply with the “one man, one vote” requirement. When other criteria and principles are taken into account, all efforts shall be made to minimize the population variance among districts.
  
• Districts will be created in as compact a form as possible, and be contiguous.
• The 2000 Census counts provided under Public Law (PL) 94-171 from the U.S. Bureau of the Census will be used as the official source of population counts and demographic information for reapportionment.
• The Board of County Commissioners will maintain a County Commission district to maximize the opportunity for a minority representative candidate to be elected.
• Commission districts should allow representation of general areas of the County having similar or common interests or affinities. Geographic neighborhood and natural boundaries should be taken into account in the establishment of district lines and be used as divisions where practicable.
  
• The Board of County Commissioners will target a zero percent retrogression (no negative change) of minority composition in districts.
• Commission districts will be sensitive to the pattern of voting districts established by the Supervisor of Elections. They should be drawn to minimize public confusion with regard to voting.