City of Kingston Redistricting

Project Update: Map A was selected by the Kingston Common Council January 26, 2023. 

Due to the results of the 2020 Census and local population changes, the City of Kingston must redraw current districting maps to make the nine wards more equitable. A Deviation and Demographics report is available here (and under Important Documents).

To undertake the redistricting effort, the Common Council President created a Redistricting Sub-Committee, with council members Barbara Hill, Rita Worthington, and Michael Olivieri serving. This effort is required every 10 years, based on the most recent Census data. Redrawing local voting districts for elections is based on population changes from the previous Census; changes in the local population since the 2020 Census were not considered.

Three drafts of new redistricting maps were created by a consultant, Plan A, Plan B and Plan C. Each plan presents draft maps for each ward. Plan A represents the least change to current ward maps. Plan C would create new wards based on census data and the City's communities with less focus on keeping the current ward boundaries. 

After community input on the initial draft maps, Plan B was eliminated. A second public hearing was held on Thursday, January 12, 2023 that focused on Plans A and C. The Common Councill held a second reading of the redistricting law (Local Law #3) and voted to select Map A on Thursday, January 26, 2023. Mayor Noble held a Public Hearing on Monday, January 30, 2023. Written comment closed on January 30, 2023. Meeting recordings can be seen below. 

Watch the Mayor's Public Hearing on Local Law #3 / Redistricting on January 30, 2023:

Watch the Common Council's Second Reading of Local Law #3 on January 26, 2023:

Watch the Redistricting Public Hearing from January 12, 2023:

Watch the Redistricting Subcommittee meeting from January 3, 2023:

Watch the virtual informational meeting from November 17, 2022:

Municipalities in New York must abide by the Voting Rights Act and constitutional rules on race. NY State law prohibits districts to be drawn with the purpose or result of denying or abridging racial or language minority voting rights and requires that districts be drawn so that racial or minority language groups do not have less opportunity to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of their choice.

New York law also requires districts to be contiguous and as compact in form “as practicable,” and there must be considerations to protect communities of interest. Wards/ Election Districts may not be drawn to discourage competition or for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring candidates or parties.