MIAMI.- After two years of court battle, the Miami Commission voted 4-1 to adopt the electoral map proposed by a civil rights group that legally challenged the city for unconstitutionally dividing neighborhoods along racial lines and undermining the fair representation.
The map adopted by the Commission this Thursday, May 23, divides the five districts of the city with straighter lines, placing Coconut Grove entirely in District 2 and bringing together most of Overtown in District 5.
Commissioner Joe Carollo, who represents District 3, was the only one to vote against the new design. Following approval, his Coconut Grove home is now in District 2.
However, the commissioner has nothing to worry about, as he will retain his position until the end of his term even though his home is outside the limits of his own jurisdiction.
Upon approval, the city will have to pay $1.6 million in attorney fees to those who challenged the map in court on the grounds that it was radically manipulated.
The new map will go into effect in a week and will be the one used in the November 2025 elections.
For its part, the American Civil Liberties Union said it applauds the Commission’s decision and stressed that the agreement allows the lawsuit for racial manipulation of the city map to be concluded.
“The agreement ensures a fair map for the remainder of this decade and proposes lasting reforms to the city’s redistricting process that will be presented to voters in a charter referendum.”
As required, the City must include a charter amendment on the November 2025 ballot in which voters approve a ban on gerrymandering in favor of certain candidates.
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