New York City Council Districting Commission

The New York City Charter requires that every ten years, after each decennial census, an independent commission be appointed to redraw Councilmanic District lines to accurately reflect the City's demographics. Each of the 51 Councilmanic Districts across the City may increase or decrease in size, depending on the Census data, to accommodate changes in population per the Census. 

The Mayor and Council leaders appoint the members of the Districting Commission to take on this task.  The Commission works to redraw lines with the data, process, and criteria required by federal law, the 2010 US Census Bureau data, and the New York City Charter.  Consistent with the requirements of the New York City Charter, the 2012 Districting Commission will begin to be constituted in or around March 2012.

After the Commission is fully constituted, Commission Members and their staff will begin meeting to review all relevant laws, regulations, and the Census data.  After public hearings and meetings, the Commission will develop a final plan to submit to the City Council and ultimately to the United States Department of Justice in advance of the 2013 elections.

The NYC Districting Commission will consist of fifteen members who shall be appointed no sooner than March 5, 2012. These members will reflect the geographic, ideological, and ethnic diversity of the City. The Council delegation of the political party which has the largest delegation in the council shall, by majority vote, appoint five members of the commission, no more than one of whom may be a resident of the same borough.  The Council delegation of the political party which has the second largest delegation in the Council, shall, by majority vote, appoint three members of the commission, no more than one of whom may be a resident of the same borough.  The Mayor shall appoint seven additional members, but the party enrollment, if any, of these additional members shall be such that individuals enrolled in a single political party shall not be a majority of the total number of members of the Commission. 

Online Resources

An analysis of the City’s demographic changes as reflected in the 2010 Census can be found on the Department of City Planning Website.

CUNY’s Center for Urban Research has mapped out some of the demographic changes on its website.

Voting Rights Act Section 5

To contact Speaker Quinn, click here: http://council.nyc.gov/html/members/contact_the_speaker.shtml