Kitsap County to consider Commissioner redistricting alternatives

Public hearing Nov. 22 to provide input on Commissioner redistricting alternatives

Kitsap County to consider Commissioner redistricting alternatives​; provide input at public hearing Nov. 22

As required by state statute, Kitsap County has reviewed 2020 U.S. Census data and proposed alternatives for revisions to its County Commissioner District boundaries. The district boundaries must meet several criteria including each being equal

in population, using logical boundaries that do not split communities and do not disadvantage any racial or ethnic group or political party. The Board of Commissioners must approve a redistricting plan by December 31, 2021 as to not affect operations of the 2022 county election cycle.

While Kitsap has grown rapidly since 2010, 2020 U.S. Census data only shows a 3.5 percent difference between district populations. Kitsap County has proposed three alternatives for consideration: one proposes no changes while two others propose modest adjustments to the District 2 and District 3 boundary focused on the West Park area of Bremerton.

These alternatives, maps, descriptions and staff analysis can be found at the project website here.

The Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the alternatives during its regular business meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, November 22, 2021 via Zoom and in person at the Kitsap County Administration Building, 619 Division Street, Port Orchard. More information on that hearing will be available on the project website as the hearing date approaches.

For more information, contact Eric Baker, Policy Manager in the Kitsap County Commissioners Office, at ebaker@co.kitsap.wa.us.

Note: This process is completely independent of efforts to redistrict legislative and congressional boundaries in Kitsap County. For information regarding those efforts, please visit the Draw Your WA website at www.redistricting.wa.gov.