Dorchester County Council Redistricting is the process of redrawing the lines of districts from which public officials are elected to accommodate population changes of the previous decade. This process is required by the Home Rule Act of 1975 and the Code of Laws of South Carolina Section 4-9-90, and is completed following the census every ten years and before the next general election (November 8, 2022). Dorchester County Council districts are redrawn by County Council, and the redistricting plan is adopted by ordinance and requires three readings with maps and/or descriptions.

What Has Been Completed to Date

Dorchester County has requested assistance from the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office (RFA) to complete redistricting, and the RFA has agreed to assist Dorchester County. The RFA is responsible for providing diverse sets of fiscal and statistical analyses, reports, and other services to the Governor, General Assembly, state and local government entities, the private sector, and the citizens of the state.

So far, Dorchester County has provided contact information for County Council members. Filing dates for the next County Council election (March 2022 for June 2022 Primary followed by the November 2022 General Election) will be provided by Dorchester County Elections and Voter Registration). Information regarding issues that may affect redistricting (e.g. changes to the Berkeley/Dorchester County boundary in 2017, etc.) has also been provided to the RFA.

What Still Needs to be Completed

Dorchester County Council will adopt a resolution establishing criteria to be used to develop the 2021 Redistricting Plan at the October 18, 2021 County Council meeting in Summerville. The RFA will use this resolution and the 2020 U.S. Census data to compile a report of key data in early October 2021. This preliminary report will contain maps, new population information for the seven County districts, and the population adjustments needed in each district to achieve the "one person, one vote" standard. The report will also contain the RFA's statistical analyses and guidelines that need to be considered to comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, specifically Section 2.

The South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office (RFA) will present the "2020 Dorchester County Redistricting Benchmark Report" to County Council and the public at the October 18, 2021 meeting in Summerville. This is the opportunity for Council and citizens to give input.

Important Dates (subject to change)

• November 1 or November 8, 2021 RFA to present the Redistricting Plan to County Council at the Nov. 1 County Council meeting at 6:00 PM or a specially-called County Council meeting on Nov. 8 at 6:00 PM in Summerville.
• November 15, 2021 1st Reading of Redistricting Plan at County Council meeting at 6:00 PM in Summerville.
• December 6, 2021 Public hearing and 2nd Reading of Redistricting Plan at 6:00 PM County Council meeting in St. George.
• December 13, 2021 3rd Reading of Redistricting Plan at specially-called 6:00 PM County Council meeting in Summerville. 

Following the 3rd Reading of the Redistricting Plan, Dorchester County Council will notify the Elections and Voter Registration Office (and other entities that will be affected by the plan) and the Elections and Voter Registration Office will then establish new precincts. New voter registration cards will be issued so voters will be able to vote in the June 2022 Primary Elections and the General Elections in November 2022 in their new County Council districts.

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