Northfield Closing in on New Political Boundaries

The on Tuesday made another step toward setting new political boundaries for the city.

With a 5-1 vote, the council approved the first reading of its redistricting plan. Councilor Suzie Nakasian dissented; Councilor Erica Zweifel was absent.

The council had narrowed the maps down to two options. Before the approval from council, which showed preference for sample plan 3 instead of sample plan 8 (see attached photos for comparison), Nakasian made a motion to approve sample plan 8.

“I think from the end game of voter confusion … we have a responsibility to come up with a map that would be recognizable to voters and ease the process of voting,” she said, citing its similarity to the current ward map. “It gives coherence to the wards.”

The motion was voted down 5-1.

Councilor Patrick Ganey then made a motion to approve sample plan 3.

He said he had concerns with sample plan 8 because its Ward 4 was predominantly filled with , which he said would limit the number of viable candidates to represent the ward.

“I think that’s a very important piece,” he said.

Nakasian said she didn’t like sample plan 8 because it split the neighborhood east of downtown, which she represents.

“Both 3 and 8 got some of the natural boundaries right, and some wrong," said Councilor Betsey Buckheit, but agreed with Ganey that filling Ward 4 with mostly a student population wasn't the right move.

The second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for April 3.

Both plans eliminate a precinct in Ward 3, bringing the city’s total precincts down to eight.

The council also approved the polling locations for the plans with a 5-1 vote; Nakasian dissented.

Why redraw the lines?

Every 10 years following the U.S. Census, political boundaries for cities, counties, legislative districts and congressional districts are redrawn to fall in line with the new demographics.

When redrawing ward and precinct lines, three key redistricting principles are taken into consideration.

They are: equal populations, the necessity that districts must touch one another and compactness of district shape, with circle and square districts being preferable.

There are also more nuanced social and political criteria to consider.

For instance, districts should preserve communities of interest, such as cities, counties and school boards, while also ensuring political competitiveness, Karen Saxe, a voting and electoral theory researcher and member at large of the League of Women Voters Northfield-Cannon Falls board of directors, said in January at a LWV redistricting open meeting.  And, she added, district lines should not be drawn to dilute minority representation or intentionally protect or defeat incumbents.

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