HB 1353 Summary

• County executives must divide counties into at least four single-member districts for county fiscal bodies, with remaining members elected at-large, except in counties with populations between 400,000-700,000 or 200,000-300,000 which have different requirements.

• County executives must consider communities of interest when drawing districts and provide at least one representative to each distinct community of interest to the extent practicable, with rural and agricultural communities designated as a distinct community of interest.

• When converting at-large seats to single-member district seats, the first election under the new plan occurs at the first election when at-large members would have been elected under the previous plan.

• Single-member districts must be compact, respect natural boundaries, not cross precinct lines, contain equal population, and include whole townships except when necessary for redistricting.

• Effective date: July 1, 2010.