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ASKINS & ARMSTRONG, P. C. <br /> ATTORNEYS AT LAW <br /> Robert T. Herrera <br /> June 22, 1999 <br /> Page 2 <br /> Thereafter, the City Council holds a public hearing on the proposed <br /> plan, and, when adopted by City Council, the new plan must be filed <br /> with the Voting Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, <br /> for preclearance under the Voting Rights Act of 1964, as amended. <br /> A full brief must be filed with the Justice Department, reflecting <br /> the census; the population determination; the findings of the <br /> City's citizens committee, together with the evidence upon which <br /> the findings were based; and evidence of the opportunities which <br /> were given for citizen participation in the proceedings. <br /> Based on past experience, this is a complex procedure, and <br /> hopefully can be put in place in time for the 2002 election of City <br /> Councilpersons. <br /> You have asked the related question of the possibility of reducing <br /> the number of polling places. Presently, a district polling place <br /> is open on election day and runoff election day, if necessary, in <br /> each of the respective districts. Absentee voting for all <br /> elections is conducted at City Hall. Due to historic low voter <br /> turnout at some of the districts, and the difficulty in obtaining <br /> the election judges and clerks required by state law at each <br /> polling place, the question has been raised as to whether the <br /> number of polling places might be reduced. <br /> I would suggest that this proposition be presented to the City's <br /> citizens committee for its consideration, and made a part of its <br /> deliberations and recommendations to City Council. Should the <br /> recommendation be made that districts be consolidated for election <br /> purposes, the City would have to make a showing to the Justice <br /> Department that such consolidation will not unduly impede or <br /> inconvenience the ability of voters to exercise their right to <br /> vote. <br /> Finally, it is my recollection that in the past, the City has had <br /> input in the planning stages of the federal census, encouraging <br /> federal census officials to make reference to the boundary lines <br /> for the six Council districts, in establishing its census tracts. <br /> If this could be done, it would make the determination of existing <br /> population as of the year 2000, more convenient. <br /> Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. <br /> Y� ery truly, <br /> Knox W. Askins <br /> City Attorney <br /> City of La Porte <br /> KWA:sw <br /> 3 -8 <br />