Delaware Post-Census Legislative Redistricting

The state and counties in Delaware redraw legislative and councilmanic districts every 10 years, using new population counts from the U.S. Census. The new Delaware General Assembly Districts reflecting the 2020 census counts, and the new New Castle County Districts, have been drawn and finalized. Sussex County Council, Kent Levy Court Districts, and City of Wilmington are now in process and taking public input.

County Districts

Sussex County

Sussex County has begun its redistricting process for County Council seats, as announced in this Nov 10, 2021 Bay to Bay News article: baytobaynews.com/stories/sussex-county-begins-redistricting-process,63349. The article, subtitied "League of Women Voters encourages residents to give input", explains that Sussex County will take public input before drawing its own draft maps.

The public can submit map ideas by email (to redistricting [at] sussexcountyde.gov) or by postal mail (to the Clerk of the Sussex County Council, P.O. Box 589, Georgetown, DE 19947) through through 4:30 p.m. Dec. 1.

County Council President Michael H. Vincent is quoted in the news article, saying:

This is an essential part of building the government that represents you, your neighbors and the communities that make up Sussex County. This is, quite literally, shaping our community’s future, at least for the next 10 years, so I encourage residents to get involved.

Fair Maps Coalition Co-Chair Jack Young is also quoted extensively in the article, which notes that the League of Women Voters of Sussex County, DE, has already submitted a suggested draft map for Sussex County Council districts. Find more information about the LWV draft map for Sussex County on the LWVSCDE website, here: Redistricting map for Sussex County Council Districts.

New Castle County

New Castle County kicked off its redistricting process in July 2021. Public comment was taken at commission meetings in August and September. The Redistricting Commission's final report and recommended districts can be found here: nccde.org/2336/Redistricting-Commission.

Kent County

Rather than council districts, Kent County Delaware has Levy Court districts. Using 2020 U.S. Census data, the Kent County Redistricting Committee has proposed modified voting districts to more evenly distribute the population amounts in each district. More information can be found here: baytobaynews.com/stories/growth-in-northern-area-leads-to-potential-district-changes-for-delawares-kent-county,62752

The Public Hearing on the Levy Court redistricting maps has been rescheduled to Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 7:00 PM. Here is the official meeting notice and agenda: co.kent.de.us/media/1037071/111621-Combined.pdf

Municipalities

The following cities and towns in Delaware have districted election seats. The redistricting status for each is listed below:

• New Castle County:
• Elsmere (Council Districts) - no information found
• Newark (Council Districts) - the Reapportionment Committee submitted its 2021 Reapportionment Plan on Oct 13, 2021. Public comments are accepted up through the public hearing on Dec 13, 2021.  Info here: newarkde.gov/1203/2021-Reapportionment-Plan-Recommendation
• Wilmington (Council Districts) - public input hearing on Nov 17, 2021.  Info here: wilmingtoncitycouncil.com/redistricting
• Kent County:
• Dover (Council Districts) - no information found
• Harrington (Council Districts) - no information found
• Smyrna (Council Districts) - no information found
• Sussex County:
• Bridgeville (Commission Districts) - no information found
• Georgetown (Ward Boundaries) - no information found
• Laurel (Ward Boundaries) - no information found
• Milford (Ward Boundaries) - no information found
• Ocean View (Council Districts) - no information found

Delaware General Assembly

After public comment in mid-October, the Delaware House of Representatives approved its updated district boundaries on Nov 1, 2021 by a vote of 40 to 1, and the Senate on Nov 1, 2021 by a vote of 14 to 7.

The final maps can be found on the General Assembly website redisticting information page: legis.delaware.gov/Redistricting. Follow the House and Senate "2022 District Maps (Final)" links in the left-side menu of the page.

In the House, due to population growth downstate a new district was added in Sussex County in the Long Neck area near Rehoboth Beach. Representative District 4, currently held by Rep. Gerald Brady, was removed in New Castle County to keep the total count at forty-one districts. The Greenville-area Barley Mill community will be entirely in the 12th House District represented by Rep. Krista Griffith. And the entirety of the Collins Park community near New Castle will now be in the 16th District represented by Rep. Franklin Cooke.

On the Senate side, Slaughter Beach will now be included with Milford in Senate District 18, which is represented by Sen. David Wilson. This change generated considerable opposition during the public comment session, as some Slaughter Beach community members and leaders wished to remain in a Sussex county RD.

In addition, Wilmington’s Midtown Brandywine community will be moved to Sen. Sarah McBride's Senate District 1 from Sen. Tizzy Lockman's Senate District 3. Kent and Sussex County Senate District boundaries were changed to ensure that the population in each district remains roughly equal.