THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 13, 1996 TAG: 9602130237
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
The City Council tonight will consider a shift in voting precincts that would add nine districts and eliminate splits in eight polling places.
The city registrar has suggested the changes to handle the growth in population and to eliminate confusion and possible legal challenges in the precincts shared by General Assembly districts.
The changes must be approved by the council and the U.S. Justice Department, which can block alterations in districts under provisions of the Voting Rights Act.
Chesapeake Registrar Ginny Garrett and her staff will present the new precincts to the council tonight at 6:30.
The Justice Department would have 60 days to ratify the changes to have them in place by the May 7 council election.
Chesapeake voters will select a mayor, three council members and four School Board representatives in May.
The only precincts that would be unaffected are Bethel, Crestwood, Georgetown, Indian Creek, Oaklette, Johnson Park, Silverwood, South Norfolk Fire Station, Carver School, Providence Church, Westover, Taylor Road Fire Station and Great Bridge Middle School.
The rest would be expanded, divided, shrunk or eliminated.
For example, the boundaries of the Churchland precinct - now split between the 76th and 77th state House districts - would be shifted to include only the 77th District. Churchland would also include the parts of the 77th District that are now in the Fellowship Church precinct.
The section of Churchland that once was in the 76th District would become a new precinct named Nansemond, with a polling place at the Jackson Memorial Baptist Church on Bruce Road.
Chesapeake residents affected by the changes will be notified by mail, Garrett said.
A map of the new precincts may be included in the city's property tax mailings, Garrett said. Citizens who have questions are asked to call the registrar's office at 547-6141. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
THE DETAILS
Council meets: 6:30 tonight.
Information on the changes will be available in libraries; on TCI
Cable Channel 23, the city's community access TV channel; and
through civic groups. by CNB