THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 14, 1996 TAG: 9602140388
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 28 lines
Voting precincts will remain unchanged for May's school board and council election after the Chesapeake City Council voted 5-3 Tuesday night to approve but delay realignment until June 12.
Council members were concerned that making the change effective for the upcoming May 7 election would not give the city time to adequately notify the public.
The revamped voting boundaries, if approved by the Justice Department, will add nine new districts and eliminate splits in eight of the city's polling places. About 12,000 voters are expected to be affected by the change.
The changes are designed to handle Chesapeake's rapid growth and to eliminate confusion and possible legal challenges in the precincts that are now shared by General Assembly districts.
Under the new plan, no precincts will be shared.
The plan will be sent to the U.S. Justice Department, which can block alterations in districts under provisions of the Voting Rights Act. by CNB