(a) In Lowndes County, there is hereby created a three member Lowndes County Districting Commission, hereinafter referred to as districting commission, to establish districts for the election of members of the Lowndes County Commission and the Lowndes County Board of Education. One member of the districting commission shall be appointed by the Lowndes County Board of Education, hereinafter referred to as board; one member shall be appointed by the Lowndes County Commission, hereinafter referred to as commission; and, one member shall be appointed by the state representative and state senator representing Lowndes County, hereinafter referred to as delegation. The board, commission, and delegation may hereinafter be referred to as appointing authorities. If the board or the commission does not appoint its member to the districting commission within 45 days from May 8, 1985, the delegation shall make the appointments within 10 days thereafter. Members of the districting commission shall be registered voters of the county and shall be over the age of 19 years. The commission and board shall provide any clerical, technical, or other assistance needed by the commission.
(b) Within 120 days of all members being appointed, the districting commission shall adopt a plan to apportion the county into five single-member districts. The apportionment plan, hereinafter called plan, shall be submitted to the board, commission, and delegation within 10 days after adoption. Unless the plan is rejected by resolution of each of the three appointing authorities within 35 days after the plan is adopted by the districting commission or unless the plan is superseded by legislative act, the plan becomes final. If the plan is rejected by a resolution of each of the appointing authorities, the districting commission shall submit, within 30 days, an additional plan for consideration. Once the plan becomes final, the districting commission shall cease to function. The plan shall be effective for the election of the members of the commission at the time of the next election for any member of the commission. The plan shall be effective for the election of the members of the board at the time of the next election for any member of the board.
(c) The Lowndes County Commission and the Lowndes County Board of Education shall consist of five members each which shall be residents of that district. One member shall be elected from each of the five districts for that body by the electors residing within the district. Each body shall elect its chair from among its membership. The districting commission shall stagger the terms of the board members so that three board members shall be elected four years thereafter and two board members shall be elected six years thereafter; provided, however, that the present term of any board member elected prior to May 8, 1985, shall not be abridged or reduced. The districting commission shall stagger the terms of the county commission so that after the initial election of all members, two members shall be elected two years thereafter and three members shall be elected four years thereafter.
Last modified: May 3, 2021