Sec. 7-2. - Districting criteria.

The districting commission shall create and submit three districting plans which lay out the boundaries of the nine council districts for the city of Columbus, using the following criteria:

1.

Districts shall comply with the United States and Ohio constitutions, this charter, and all applicable local, state and federal laws, including, but not limited to, the federal Voting Rights Act and any successor thereto.

2.

Each district shall have reasonably equal population with other districts based on data from the most recent federal census, except where deviation is required to comply with the federal Voting Rights Act and any successor thereto or is otherwise allowable by law; but in no instance may the population of the largest district exceed that of the smallest district by more than one percent.

3.

Districts shall be geographically contiguous, with boundaries of each district comprised of a single nonintersecting continuous line.

4.

To the extent practicable, district boundaries shall be drawn to encourage geographic compactness such that nearby areas of population are not bypassed for more distant populations.

5.

To the extent practicable, district boundaries shall be drawn to maintain the geographic integrity of a neighborhood or community of interest.

6.

To the extent practicable, district boundaries shall be drawn using the boundaries of existing election precincts, council districts, and geographically identifiable boundaries, such as roads and waterways.

7.

Districts shall not be drawn for the overt purpose of favoring or disfavoring any political group.

(Ord. No. 0650-2018, § 2, 3-5-2018)