Hamilton County Attorney Rheubin TaylorKeystrokes have replaced man-hours in the decade since the Hamilton County Commission last redrew its political boundaries.
Aided by a new $4,500 Web-based software package purchased by the Election Commission, the county's Geographic Information Systems staff and individual county commissioners instantly have been able to view map changes that previously took hours or even days to calculate and draft.
Commissioners are using the software as they work to reapportion nine commission and school board districts based on 2010 U.S. Census data.
The process of redrawing districts is mathematically, legally and politically complex. Commissioners must take into account factors such as population deviation, minority representation, geography and the shape of districts, according to County Attorney Rheubin Taylor. Commissioners also consider school zones.
In previous redistricting years, staff from Geographic Information Systems would have to take notes about individual commissioners' recommended changes and spend large amounts of time mapping census blocks into various drafts.
"Ten years ago it was awful," said Charlotte Mullis-Morgan, administrator of elections. "They had such a hard time."
The new software now allows a commissioner and staff member to instantly reconfigure census blocks while calculating legal parameters of demographics and deviation.
"The power of the software, which is different from last time, is we can make calculations on the fly," Geographic Information Systems manager Greg Butler said.
District 8 Commissioner Tim Boyd described the software as "marvelous." Mullis-Morgan has offered to allow Chattanooga City Council to use the mapping service when it begins its redistricting process.
Commissioners currently are meeting with Geographic Information Systems staff in hopes of finalizing a redistricting proposal to be voted on Aug. 17, Chairman Larry Henry said.
A plan approved by the County Commission must be submitted to the state by Jan. 1, 2012.
Once approved by the State Office of Local Government, the Legislature will incorporate the county's plan in its state redistricting effort. After the Legislature approves a final redistricting package, the county's Election Commission must assign voting precincts and provide notice to affected voters before the Aug. 2, 2012, election.