Nassau County Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) and fellow members of the majority approved a legislative redistricting map on Feb. 27, as required under the County charter. The new maps were drawn to adapt the County to the 2000 census changes that have occurred in the past 10 years. The last redistricting maps were drawn in 1994.

"This is a fair plan for Nassau County and it keeps all 19 incumbents in individual districts," Jacobs said. The map also splits fewer villages and maintains the registration plurality, with seven districts showing a majority Democratic registration and 12 with a majority Republican registration.

According to Legislator Jacobs, the map also maintains effective minority districts in both Districts 1 and 2 and complies with the federal Voting Rights Act.

"I fought hard throughout the redistricting process to make sure every citizen of Nassau County had a representative they can truly call their own," Jacobs said. "I think the new map accomplishes that feat."

On January 3 the Temporary Districting Commission was unable to submit a proposed map to the legislature for consideration. When the commission failed to act, it fell upon the legislature to work with the commission's staff to formalize a map that could be approved by the full legislature. The map was approved last week 10-9, along party lines.

According to Jacobs, the creation of the maps used the most advanced database ever created for Nassau County. The appointees of the Temporary Districting Commission used the most sophisticated software available and for the first time ever, merged county mapping, Board of Elections and the New York State legislative-generated US Census databases.