While the state of Alabama is having to redraw congressional districts because of a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, Madison is redrawing its city council districts by choice.

That is because the population increase in the fast-growing north Alabama city has thrown the council districts out of balance, according to a consultant who is helping Madison redraw its lines.

According to Mike Slaughter, owner and president of Slaughter and Associates, Madison’s districts are out of balance 70.8% after the city grew by more than 36% from just under 43,000 in 2010 to just under 57,000 in 2020 based on U.S. census counts.

The percentage out of balance combines the percentage of the district with largest population over the ideal population with the district with the most under the ideal population.

After the 2020 census, the ideal population for each district would be 8,139 to meet the Department of Justice and the Voting Rights Act’s “one person-one vote requirement,” Slaughter said.