United States District Court Approves Salisbury Redistricting Plan

Salisbury - Mayor James Ireton, Jr. today announced that the City has fulfilled its court requirement for finalizing the redistricting plan approved by the City Council on September 8th, 2014.

In a case filed February 20th, 1986, through counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Maryland, on behalf of plaintiff BilIy Gene Jackson, Sr. and the City’s African-American voters, the City of Salisbury's at-large election system was challenged as violative of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, 42 U.S.C. §1973, which protects against “Denial or abridgement of right to vote on account of race or color through voting qualifications or prerequisites.” A violation is found to have occurred if “members have less opportunity than other members of the electorate to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of their choice.” The matter was resolved in District Court and agreed to by the parties by entry of a Consent Decree on June 28th, 1987.

The 1987 consent decree led to the establishment of two election districts—one a single-member district with a majority-minority population, electing one member of the City Council; and a second, majority-white, multimember district electing four council members. The 1987 Consent Decree anticipated the City would periodically alter the district lines to accommodate population changes, but that the structure established by the decree would otherwise remain in place.

The 2010 U.S. Census indicated a significant shift in Salisbury’s general demographic makeup, with the City becoming substantially more racially diverse than it had previously been. To keep the election process fair for all, Mayor James Ireton, Jr. and Planning and Zoning staff examined redistricting options, and forwarded several to the Salisbury City Council. After a two-year process of careful consideration, the City Council brought Mayor Ireton’s five-district option to vote. On September 8th, 2014, the Council passed Resolution 2443 approving the Mayor’s proposed five-district plan. Resolution 2443 replaced the two existing election districts with a system of five single-member districts, with each district electing one Council member who must reside within the district he or she represents.

Approval of the updated consent decree by the United States District Court for the State of Maryland represents the final test for redistricting in Salisbury. Mayor Ireton voiced his satisfaction with the ruling, stating, "The courts have upheld our redistricting plan. The most important part of this approval is that the courts did not force Salisbury to take the progressive step of creating majority-minority districts. This is a well-deserved moment for our city. This progressive thinking has led to 4 candidates on the ballot for the newly created District 2 on the Salisbury City Council. I must thank the work of the Salisbury City Council, the Wicomico County/City of Salisbury Planning Department, and our residents for helping us achieve this milestone. Again, this approval reflects a changing Salisbury and is a victory for our residents, for diversity, and for the underserved parts of our city.”