Scope and Content: Massachusetts Const Amend Art 21 states the principle of equal representation in voting districts. MGLA c 54, ss 2,6 requires that in the year following the decennial federal census, the city ward/precinct or town precinct divisions be examined in light of population changes recorded by that census, to ensure the equal number of residents in each precinct. The city or town clerk must send notice to the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth forthwith after the city council or the board of selectmen vote to accept a plan. Six items must be submitted: (1) Number and designation (numbers or letters) of wards and precincts and their population (2) Official census map showing new wards and precincts designated by number and letter (3) Physical boundary description of the new wards and precincts which includes the number of residents in each new ward and precinct (4) List of the census tract and block numbers and each block’s population for each precinct (5) Map with the precincts drawn on it (6) Vote of adoption. Changes take effect at the end of year following the census. –All of the above submissions must be certified. When submitted, these materials should be accompanied by a letter from the city or town clerk or election commission that the materials have been certified by a vote of the board of selectmen or board of aldermen or the city council. The Office of Secretary of the Commonwealth transmits these materials to the Local Election District Review Commission (LEDRC). LEDRC is an independent commission charged with the responsibilities of overseeing, supervising and approving the divisions of cities and towns into precincts. While LEDRC is within the department of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, it is not within his supervision or control. LEDRC consists of three members: the attorney general and the state secretary, or their designees, and a third member appointed by the governor. Each member serves at the pleasure of his or her respective designating officer. –LEDRC reviews each plan under the requirements of MGLA c 54 and other relevant constitutional requirements.  LEDRC has the authority to reject submitted plans and to require local authorities to reconfigure their wards and precincts. If the plan is disapproved, LEDRC must clearly spell out the deficiencies in the plan in writing and promptly notify the local officials. If a locality fails to submit a ward and precinct plan or fails to comply with a directive of LEDRC following its review, then LEDRC (or a master appointed by LEDRC) is mandated to make local ward and precinct divisions itself. The cost of any such undertaking by LEDRC is borne by the offending locality.
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