CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Nov. 16, 2021) — Charlotte City Council members on Monday approved a redistricting plan for City Council districts. The plan balances the populations of each district to ensure district populations are equally represented on the City Council — a legal principle known as "one person, one vote."
Council members adopted redistricting
plan B1, which is based on 2020 census data and was unanimously recommended by the Redistricting Ad Hoc Committee. Plan B1 moves 16 voting precincts from districts 2, 3 and 4 — fast-growing districts that exceed the ideal district size of 124,950 people — to districts 1, 5 and 6. The District 7 boundaries remain unchanged because of its location and size.
Understanding New City Council Districts
District 1
Voting precincts 26, 37, 42, 54 and 82 move to District 1 under the redistricting plan. These precincts include the following neighborhoods and areas:
District 1's Demographics
Under the adopted redistricting plan, District 1's population is 124,028 people. The district population's race and ethnicity statistics include 17.2% Hispanic, 41.8% white, 33.6% Black, 3.3% Asian and 4.2% other race or ethnicity. It includes 88,870 registered voters. Registered voter party statistics include 50.9% Democrat, 13.6% Republican and 35.5% unaffiliated or other party.
Without redistricting, District 1's population would remain 114,670 people, as shown by 2020 census data — less than the population required by law. The district population's race and ethnicity statistics would continue to be 15.0% Hispanic, 50.7% white, 26.3% Black, 3.8% Asian and 4.2% other race or ethnicity. The district would have 83,903 registered voters. Registered voter party statistics would remain 45.9% Democrat, 16.6% Republican and 37.5% unaffiliated or other party.
District 2
Voting precincts 23, 24 and 81 move to District 2 under the redistricting plan. These precincts include the following neighborhoods and areas:
District 2's Demographics
Under the adopted redistricting plan, District 2's population is 127,274 people. The district population's race and ethnicity statistics are 13.9% Hispanic, 22.8% white, 54.2% Black, 4.8% Asian and 4.2% other race or ethnicity. It also includes 90,318 registered voters. Registered voter party statistics include 59.3% Democrat, 10.9% Republican and 29.8% unaffiliated or other party.
Without redistricting, District 2's population would remain 129,293 people, as shown by 2020 census data — more than the population required by law. The district population's race and ethnicity statistics would continue to be 13.5% Hispanic, 23.1% white, 54.3% Black, 4.7% Asian and 4.3% other race or ethnicity. The district would have 91,266 registered voters. Registered voter party statistics would remain 58.9% Democrat, 10.9% Republican and 30.1% unaffiliated or other party.
District 3
Under the adopted redistricting plan, no voting precincts move into District 3. Voting precincts 23, 24 and 81 move out of District 3 into District 2.
District 3's Demographics
Under the adopted redistricting plan, District 3's population is 125,843 people. The district population's race and ethnicity statistics are 23.5% Hispanic, 26.5% white, 38.3% Black, 7.4% Asian and 4.3% other race or ethnicity. It also includes 82,690 registered voters. Registered voter party statistics include 52.7% Democrat, 14.7% Republican and 32.6% unaffiliated or other party.
Without redistricting, District 3's population would remain 140,958 people, as shown by 2020 census data — more than the population required by law. The district population's race and ethnicity statistics would continue to be 22.6% Hispanic, 25.9% white, 40.2% Black, 7.0% Asian and 4.3% other race or ethnicity. The district would have 93,965 registered voters. Registered voter party statistics would remain 53.8% Democrat, 14.1% Republican and 32.1% unaffiliated or other party.
District 4
Voting precinct 211 moves to District 4 under the redistricting plan. This precinct includes the following neighborhoods and areas:
Auston Woods Village.
Avery Glen.
Avery Meadows.
Camden at Wedgewood.
Claiborne Woods.
Davis Meadows.
Fox Chase.
Frank Vance Road.
Gaitwood.
Gar Cove.
Holly Ridge.
Keeneland.
Lakeview Road.
Long Creek Apartments.
Madison Square.
McIntyre.
North Lake.
Northlake.
Potomac.
Residences of Brookline.
Towne Meadows/Braemar.
Walden Ridge.
Wedgewood at Whitley.
Wedgewood North.
Wren.
District 4's Demographics
Under the adopted redistricting plan, District 4's population is 124,162 people. The district population's race and ethnicity statistics are 12.6% Hispanic, 30.6% white, 43.0% Black, 9.0% Asian and 4.8% other race or ethnicity. It also includes 79,585 registered voters. Registered voter party statistics include 52.6% Democrat, 13.3% Republican and 34.0% unaffiliated or other party.
Without redistricting, District 4's population would remain 134,423 people, as shown by 2020 census data —more than the population required by law. The district population's race and ethnicity statistics would continue to be 15.4% Hispanic, 27.9% white, 43.9% Black, 8.4% Asian and 4.5% other race or ethnicity. The district would have 84,153 registered voters. Registered voter party statistics would remain 54.5% Democrat, 12.6% Republican and 32.9% unaffiliated or other party.
District 5
Voting precincts 5, 45 and 205 move to District 5 under the redistricting plan. These precincts include the following neighborhoods and areas:
District 5's Demographics
Under the adopted redistricting plan, District 5's population is 127,529 people. The district population's race and ethnicity statistics are 27.0% Hispanic, 24.4% white, 37.4% Black, 6.5% Asian and 4.6% other race or ethnicity. It also includes 77,897 registered voters. Registered voter party statistics include 54.4% Democrat, 12.9% Republican and 32.7% unaffiliated or other party.
Without redistricting, District 5's population would remain 116,839 people, as shown by 2020 census data — less than the population required by law. The district population's race and ethnicity statistics would continue to be 27.2% Hispanic, 23.8% white, 37.8% Black, 6.5% Asian and 4.7% other race or ethnicity. The district would have 71,317 registered voters. Registered voter party statistics would remain 54.8% Democrat, 12.6% Republican and 32.6% unaffiliated or other party.
District 6
Voting precincts 1, 8, 18 and 35 move to District 6 under the redistricting plan. These precincts include the following neighborhoods and areas:
Cotswold.
Crescent Heights.
Eastover.
Myers Park North.
Myers Park West.
District 6's Demographics
Under the adopted redistricting, District 6's population is 120,998 people. The district population's race and ethnicity statistics are 11.3% Hispanic, 69.9% white, 11.3% Black, 3.5% Asian and 4.1% other race or ethnicity. It also includes 89,849 registered voters. Registered voter party statistics include 30.7% Democrat, 31.1% Republican and 38.2% unaffiliated or other party.
Without redistricting, District 6's population would remain 113,651 people, as shown by 2020 census data — less than the population required by law. The district population's race and ethnicity statistics would continue to be 11.8% Hispanic, 68.8% white, 11.7% Black, 3.6% Asian and 4.2% other race or ethnicity. The district would have 84,605 registered voters. Registered voter party statistics would remain 31.2% Democrat, 30.7% Republican and 38.1% unaffiliated or other party.
District 7
Under the adopted redistricting plan, no voting precincts move into or out of District 7. Therefore, the district's population and demographics are unchanged.
According to 2020 census data, the district's population is 124,819 people. The district population's race and ethnicity statistics are 8.3% Hispanic, 63.6% white, 8.6% Black, 14.5% Asian and 5.0% other race or ethnicity. It also includes 90,470 registered voters. Registered voter party statistics include 27.2% Democrat, 32.7% Republican and 40.1% unaffiliated or other party.
Criteria for the Approved Redistricting Plan
The adopted redistricting plan closely meets criteria for new districts set in September by the Redistricting Ad Hoc Committee.
Most Important Criteria for Redistricting:
Districts must have substantially equal population — one person, one vote rule (required).
Districts should be reasonably compact (strongly recommended).
District boundaries may follow neighborhood boundaries or the boundaries of areas containing residents sharing similar interests.
Redistricting Criteria of Secondary Importance:
District boundaries may follow precinct boundaries.
District boundaries may be drawn considering the race of district residents, as long as race is not the predominant motivating factor.
District(s) most likely to be impacted by future annexations (or growth rates) may be smaller to minimize impact of future annexations on future redistricting.
District boundaries may be drawn to avoid contests between incumbents.
Timeline and Next Steps
With the final redistricting plan now adopted by the City Council, the City of Charlotte will notify the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections of the new map by the Nov. 17 deadline, as required by state law.
Individuals running for Charlotte City Council offices during the city's 2022 municipal elections can file for candidacy Dec. 6 through Dec. 17. Charlotte's municipal primary election will be held March 8, 2022. The municipal general election will be on April 26, 2022, or May 17, 2022, if there is a second primary for any federal office.