Voters approved commission expansion last November
By Teresa Sargeant
Reporter
The 2025 Mid-Decennial Redistricting Advisory Committee met last week for the second time since its formation. Its members discussed the redistricting process that will increase the number of Orange County Districts from six to eight.
The advisory committee meeting occurred on Wednesday, March 12, at the Orange County Administration Center in Orlando, following an initial meeting on March 6.
In November 2024, Orange County voters passed a charter amendment to increase the number of commission districts from six to eight. In January, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners created the 2025 Mid-Decennial Redistricting Advisory Committee to help with the redistricting process.
Tasked with recommendations for increasing the number of Orange County Commission Districts from six to eight, the advisory committee’s responsibilities are as follows: to conduct public meetings for residents’ input, evaluate census data, suggest boundaries for the two new commission districts and modifications to existing districts, and give an initial recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners for evaluation in September.
The committee discussed the mapping process, the use of census data, and how redistricting could affect voter turnout, costs, and the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office. The committee was introduced to the mapping software Dave’s Redistricting, which can create redistricting maps for all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Residents during public comment brought up the importance of correct census data and fair representation. Cynthia Harris of Orlando stressed the importance of thinking about District 6’s transient populations and how that reflects the district’s population.
“We have the jail, and with the jail being counted, because in the census, you’re counting people and not voters, you’re actually double dipping, because those people are not all from District 6 to be in the jail,” Harris said. “Once they leave the jail, they’re going back to their prospective communities based on whatever happens with the outcome of their cases, or they’re going to the reception center or permanent prison and then they’re being counted there.”
She recommended the committee consider the American Community Survey that the U.S. Census Bureau offers on a more frequent basis as opposed to the U.S. Census’ 10-year recurrence, to gather more accurate data in the redistricting process.
Per a resolution, the Orange County Supervisor of Elections must assign a staff to the committee when developing redistricting recommendations, Dan Helm, director of special projects with the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office, said. After the committee makes final recommendations this September and the board approves it, the Supervisor of Elections Office can start its work.
Helm gave the advisory committee recommendations for the redistricting process, including to look at census blocks, the smallest geographic unit the U.S. State Census Bureau uses, when gathering data. He also recommended not dividing congressional districts or precincts because the Supervisor of Elections Office has requirements on how to report to the state and give information to voters.
The first public county district meeting is scheduled 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, at the Orange County Multicultural Center in District 6, 7149 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando.
The District 2 meeting will take place 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, at the John Bridges Community Center, 445 W. 13th St., Apopka.
For more information and resources including the meeting calendar and to submit public comment, visit OCFL.net/redistricting.
The Apopka Chief is an award-winning weekly newspaper serving the greater Apopka area in Central Florida since 1923.
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