NC S285

City of Asheville must amend its charter by November 1, 2017 to create six single-member electoral districts for City Council elections, with districts used beginning in the 2019 municipal elections.

Electoral districts must be reasonably compact, geographically diverse, contiguous, and have population deviation of no more than plus or minus 5 percent; the mayor remains elected at-large.

City Council shall appoint a seven-member Independent Districting Commission by August 22, 2017 with no more than three members from the same political party; the Commission must submit its final map by October 10, 2017.

City Council may alternatively establish districts through its own process, but must still submit all considered maps and the adopted map to the Legislative Library and legislative leadership by November 15, 2017.

If Asheville fails to create electoral districts by the deadline, the North Carolina General Assembly shall establish the districts in its 2018 Regular Session.