An Overview of the Data Presented Here

The BISD is currently – April 19, 2012 -- considering six redistricting plans.  The maps and data presented here describe those plans and, in the event that one of them is approved b the BISD Board, the data displayed here will be a major component of the Board’s submission to the Department of Justice.  The Department of Justice must approve new voting plans before they can be implemented. 

There are five files for each plan: two map files and three files containing data.  These files are described below.

The Map Files. 

There are two map files for each plan.  The files labeled Map A are formatted for 8.5” by 11” paper and can be printed in color or black/white on most office or home printers. 

The files labeled Map B are formatted for 36” by 48” paper.  Persons who want the larger maps but lack the larger scale printers may copy these files to a disc or flash drive and have maps printed at an Office Depot, Kinko’s, or other business  that offers  these services.

The Data Files. 

The files labeled “Statistics” address the one-man-one-vote rule.  They include the determination of the population of the “ideal” district, the populations of the actual districts, the differences between the two, and the computation of the Relative Overall Range.  This statistic, the Relative Overall Range, is used by the Department of Justice to determine compliance with the one-man-one-vote rule.  Plans with Relative Overall Ranges below 10.0 are considered to be in compliance with this rule.  Note that Total Population, rather than Voting Age Population, is used to compute this index.

The files labeled “District Summary” contain data that describe the racial and ethnic composition of the districts.  These data are used by the Department of Justice to consider retrogression.  When considering this question, the Department of Justice compares the composition of the districts in the plan being proposed to the composition of the districts in the Benchmark.  Note that these comparisons are made using Voting Age Population.

The last set of files, those labeled  “District Report” contain the list of precincts that comprise each district.  They also include the racial and ethnic composition of the precincts and districts.  Note that many of the precincts on BISD’s boundaries are “split” between BISD and neighboring ISD’s; hence, the total populations for these precincts will not match the totals seen in some county data.