What are they?
The physical requirements to be taken into account in terms of districting will relate primarily to
geographical and social issues. Geographical issues will be the easiest to address. Where there
are major features - large rivers, mountains, even major highway systems - it is reasonable for the
districting process to take these into account and for boundaries to be proposed which are
consistent with geographical features and travel patterns.
Social issues are more difficult to address. At the local level, when electing a representative to a
local council, there may well be a wish for the representative to serve an area which has a strong
community of interest. A community which has common interest because of educational, health
care, sporting and recreational services is one which may wish to have 'their' councillor, rather
than simply taking the prescribed number of electors and grouping them together ignoring local
interest issues. These issues should not, however, outweigh equity considerations. The value of
the vote should remain the paramount factor and social considerations should not mean that one
area of 2,000 electors has one councillor while the next area has a councillor for 1,300 electors.
Relationship to Polling Site
The districting process should be influential in the choice of polling site - not the other way
around. Once the districting process is complete the provision of a polling site should follow.
Use of Data
To carry out districting work, the responsible person or authority needs accurate data. Key
information includes the number of electors in the area, the total population, demographic trends
(i.e. is the population going up or down faster or slower than the average) and also information
about development issues (i.e. is the area earmarked for rapid growth through development or are
the number of dwelling units staying largely unchanged).
Where there is a good quality registration and census system, this information will be easy to
find. Also needed are accurate maps of the area so that electoral boundaries can easily and
accurately be identified.
Even with maps of an area, difficulties can occur with informal settlements, where there are often
high population densities with few permanent dwellings or addresses. Particular efforts need to
be made in such areas to register electors.
Division of Areas
The method of division of areas into districts served by polling sites is very important if the
polling site area is a separate electoral unit returning one or more elected members. If the
division into areas served by polling sites has no significance in result terms (in other words a
large number of areas are brought together for the purpose of elections), the key criteria is the
convenience of the elector and taking into account the provisions of the electoral law in terms of
the maximum distance an elector has to travel or the maximum number of electors which can be
served by a single site (if these issues are prescribed). If not, then it is for the electoral manager
to adopt guidelines so his staff and others involved in the electoral process know how decisions
are being made.
Where districts for one type of election overlay another the best solution is to use the districts for
the lowest level as building bricks for each subsequent level. This solution minimises confusion
for the voters and it is then possible for polling sites to handle two or more separate contests for
different areas on the same polling day. For example, districts at the lowest level may each
consist of 2000 electors and elect one member, while at the next level, they could form a single
district electing one member for 8000 voters.
Numbers of voters should be the primary criteria in districting but emerging changes in
population, particularly if they are short term, should be taken into account.
