1. (a) This section applies only to a county:

   1. (1) that has a population of more than three hundred thousand (300,000) but less than four hundred thousand (400,000); and
   2. (2) in which a public question under IC 36-2-2.4 making the county executive a single county executive has been approved by the voters of the county.
2. (b) Effective for the 2018 general election, the county fiscal body shall by ordinance divide the county into nine (9) contiguous, single-member districts that comply with subsection (c). One (1) member of the fiscal body shall be elected by the voters of each of the nine (9) districts.

3. (c) Single-member districts established under subsection (b) must:

   1. (1) be compact, subject only to natural boundary lines (such as railroads, major highways, rivers, creeks, parks, and major industrial complexes);
   2. (2) not cross precinct boundary lines;
   3. (3) contain, as nearly as possible, equal population;
   4. (4) include whole townships, except when a division is clearly necessary to accomplish redistricting under this section;
   5. (5) consider how communities of interest within the county can best be represented; and
   6. (6) be drawn so as to provide at least one (1) representative to each distinct community of interest to the extent practicable and not inconsistent with other applicable law.

4. (d) A division under subsection (b) shall be made:

   1. (1) effective for the 2018 general election; and
   2. (2) whenever the county executive adopts an order declaring a county boundary to be changed under IC 36-2-1-2 .
5. (e) After a division is initially made under subsection (b), another division may be made in any odd-numbered year not described in subsection (d).

As added by P.L.77-2014, SEC.18.