The MARIS system on Monday revealed the new Senate district boundaries affecting DeSoto County as approved by a federal panel of three judges to satisfy a lawsuit won by the Mississippi chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or NAACP.
The NAACP sued and was successful after the State initially drew legislative districts with the 2020 U. S. Census, as it is required to do every 10 years. The basis for the legal action was the contention that Black voting strength was being diluted in some areas of the state as a violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, with DeSoto County being a particular area in violation.
Earlier, both the State Election Commissioners and the NAACP provided mapping options for districts in DeSoto County and the judges determined the Election Commissioners’ option was the best to satisfy the Voting Rights Act violation, provide a black majority district and prevent incumbents from running against each other in special elections now set for this year.
While some images of maps have been circulating the past weekend, MARIS was the official vehicle to provide the new district maps for Senate districts in DeSoto County. MARIS is the Mississippi Automated Resource Information System. Monday was the deadline day for the maps to be released.
Here is a quick synopsis of the areas covered in the new Senate district maps: Images are screenshots taken from the website. More details may be found by viewing the website at maris.mississippi.edu, where a copy of the court order may also be found.
District 1: Nesbit East and West, Eudora, Arkabutla, Love, all of Hernando, Baker’s Chapel, Alphaba Cockrum Ingram’s Mill, Lewisburg, Lewisburg East, and DeSoto Central.
District 2: Mineral Wells, Summershill, Greenbrook North, Southaven North, Southaven West, Southaven South, Colonial Hills, Horn Lake East, Horn Lake North, Horn Lake Central, Horn Lake Central, Horn Lake Intermediate, Walls, Lake Cormorant, Robinsonville, and Banks/Hambrick.
District 11: Elmore, Horn Lake High School, Evansville, Sarah, Strayhorn, Pritchard, then south into Tunica and Quitman counties to include Clarksdale and Marks areas.
District 19: Olive Branch East, Hacks Cross, Olive Branch South, Fairhaven, Olive Branch North, Olive Branch West, Pleasant Hill North, Bridgetown, Greenbrook South.
The website also shows where the House districts will be under the court order.
Following is the new calendar for candidate qualifying, voter registration, and dates for the primaries and special general election under the court order:
June 2 – Qualifying Begins
June 9 – Qualifying Deadline
June 13 – Deadline for State Executive Committee to Submit Names of Qualified Candidates
June 21 – Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (“UOCAVA”) Absentee Voting Begins for Primary Election
August 5 – Special Primary Election Day
September 2 – Special Primary Runoff Election Day
September 20 – UOCAVA Absentee Voting Begins for General Election
