Proposal splits growing districts
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GONZALES — The Ascension Parish Council on Monday introduced an ordinance that would split several voting precincts and combine a few others as an advance step for expected changes from the coming 2010 census.
In all, 15 precincts would be split, creating 32 precincts. Two lightly populated precincts, 60 and 61, would be combined with the existing Precinct 6 and a new precinct 74, respectively. Precinct 74 would be split from the existing Precinct 8, according to the proposed ordinance. The precincts would apply to all federal, state and local elections in the parish.
The changes primarily would affect high-growth areas on the parish’s east bank, including Prairieville, Dutchtown, Gonzales and St. Amant, according to a map of changes reviewed after the special afternoon meeting ended.
The full council is expected to vote next week on the proposal.
Ascension Parish Registrar of Voters Robert Poché told the council Monday the precinct splits are necessary so he can prepare for the census, the count of the nation’s population.
Parish Council districts, as well as districts for other local, state and federal elected officials, are reapportioned every 10 years based on population changes tallied by the census.
Poché said later Monday he will not have census data until January 2011 but said he knows where growth has occurred based on voter registration.
Poché said he must have a reapportionment plan to the U.S. Department of Justice for approval about three months after the census data is provided and there would not be enough time to finish if he waited. The precinct changes, which, if approved, would not take effect for voters until January 2011, would occur in the current council districts of at least seven council members. Poché said the splits divide the geographical area now covered by one precinct. He said the precincts to be split are getting too populous.
Among the councilmen with affected precincts is George Valentine, whose Dutchtown-area district would have two precincts split. One of them, Precinct 19, would be broken into four pieces, Precincts 19, 79, 80 and 81, under the proposed ordinance.
The precinct map shows the current Precinct 19 is bounded by La. 73, La. 621 and New River Bayou and Bayou Goudine. La. 74 cuts through the current Precinct 19.
Other precincts would be split in two near La. 42 and elsewhere along La. 73.
Poché said polling locations will depend on reapportionment. He told Valentine during the meeting the proposed splits will lead to some additional costs.
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