Matters ▸ Attachment
City_Council_Reprecincting_20211014 — File 212529
City of Somerville
Census 2020
Reprecincting Process
October 14, 2021 Update for City Council
Cortni Desir, Director, SomerStat
Nicholas Salerno, Elections Commissioner
Why reprecincting?
Every 10 years, Massachusetts cities and towns are required by
law to review their population data from the most recent
decennial U.S. Census. Then, using that data, they must submit
a locally approved ward and precinct map for approval by the
State.
Process
June: City notified
of reprecincting
process
July: Staff working
group formed to
prepare for Census
data release
September: City
received Census 2020
data and Draft Map
Version 1 from State
technical assistance
team; working group
reviews and provides
feedback
Early October:
Working group
releases Draft Map
Version 3 for feedback
Late October:
Working group
submits proposed
map to City Council
for Approval
October 30: Recommended
deadline to submit locally
approved map to State’s
Local Election Districts
Review Commission (LEDRC)
December 31:
LEDRC-approved
map goes into
effect
Reprecincting standards
●
Each new precinct must be “composed of compact and contiguous
territory” without protruding fingers or long tails.
●
Precincts must be bounded by boundaries of Census blocks.
●
No precinct may contain more than 4,000 residents.
●
Every precinct’s population must be within five percent (5%) of the
average precinct population for that ward or town. Ward populations must
be within five percent (5%) of the average ward population for the city.
●
Redrawn precinct and ward boundaries must not result in the dilution of
minority group members’ votes.
Somerville’s population grew
7% between 2010 and 2020
An increase of 5,291 people from 2010 to 2020 (75,754 vs 81,045)
12%
-2%
0%
-7%
-6%
-13%
-2%
2%
-2%
7%
-20%
-10%
0%
10%
20%
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
Percent Change in
Population
U.S. Census Year
City of Somerville Population:
Percent Change from Previous U.S. Decennial Census
Population increased in all wards, but
growth was not even
Ward*
2010 Population
2020 Population
Change in
Population
% of Total
Population
Growth
1
10,894
12,361
1,467
28%
2
11,130
11,952
822
16%
3
10,428
10,829
401
8%
4
10,811
11,079
268
5%
5
10,669
11,829
1,160
22%
6
11,021
11,599
578
11%
7
10,801
11,396
595
11%
* 2010 boundaries
Current ward boundaries aren’t within
5% of average as required
Ward*
2020 Population
Variance (2020
Population)
1
12,361
6.8%
2
11,952
3.2%
3
10,829
-6.5%
4
11,079
-4.3%
5
11,829
2.2%
6
11,599
0.2%
7
11,396
-1.6%
* 2010 boundaries
At 21 precincts, the target population
per precinct is too close to maximum
Number of
Precincts
Minimum Population
per Precinct
Target Population
Per Precinct
Maximum
Population Per
Precinct
21
3,666
3,859
4,000
Given projected housing development in the next few years,
several precincts would likely exceed the maximum population
as new housing is completed and occupied.
Proposed map adds precincts
and allows room for growth
Highest volume of housing production
expected in:
●
Union Square (Wards 2 and 3)
●
Assembly (Ward 1)
●
Hillside (Ward 7)
●
East Somerville (Ward 1)
●
Spring Hill (Ward 3)
Proposed
Ward (Version 3)
2020
Population
Variance
1
11,335
-2.1%
2
11,121
-3.9%
3
11,565
-0.1%
4
11,819
2.1%
5
11,922
3.0%
6
11,887
2.7%
7
11,396
-1.6%
Impacts of changes
Ward changes
With the proposed map,
approximately 4% of the
population will have a new
ward effective December 31.
New polling locations
City will evaluate precinct
polling locations and add
locations for future elections
Blocks impacted by ward changes
Ward 1
Ward 2
Ward 3
Ward 4
Ward 5
Ward 6
Ward 7