The redistricting process for Guilford County government is officially underway.
At a Thursday, Sept. 16 afternoon work session, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners offered feedback to county staff on the web tools for drawing new maps and also approved by tacit consent a schedule for the important process that will redraw county commissioner race lines for the next decade.
At the work session, the commissioners gave their nod of approval to the calendar that lays out a timeline for the process that will take about two months.
The Guilford County commissioners have already taken two steps down the path. On Wednesday, Sept. 8, the commissioners held a work session to review and approve redistricting process guidelines, and then, at the Sept. 16 meeting, the board approved a web-based redistricting portal that can be used by interested people and parties who would like to draw and submit new lines for the eight Guilford County commissioner districts.
Those who wish to submit a map, according to the calendar, will have to do so by the deadline of 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 30.
Other important dates are Wednesday, Oct. 6 and Thursday, Oct. 7, when the board will hold meetings to review map submissions and select final map options. The commissioners might not hold the Oct. 6 meeting if there’s a feeling that the needed business can be handled with just the meeting on Oct. 7.
On Thursday, Oct. 21, the Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the final map proposals.
On November 4, the board hopes to approve a final map.
The deadline for the board to adopt and submit the final redistricting map is Thursday, Nov. 18.