HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                         3203

(2) THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL
ESTABLISH COMMISSIONER DISTRICTS WHICH ARE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL IN
POPULATION AND REASONABLY COMPACT AND CONSIST OF CONTIGUOUS
TERRITORY. DUE REGARD SHALL BE GIVEN TO DEMOGRAPHIC
CHARACTERISTICS AND TO NATURAL BOUNDARIES AND THE BOUNDARIES OF
POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.

(d)  Although County Commissioner candidates are required to
reside in specified County Commissioner Districts, they shall be
elected on a countywide basis.

(e)  The five County Commissioners shall be residents of
their respective County Commissioner Districts and of Dorchester
County for 1 year prior to election to office.

(F) OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, ONE SHALL BE ELECTED FROM
EACH OF THE COMMISSIONER DISTRICTS SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION (B) OF
THIS SECTION OR ESTABLISHED UNDER SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION,
AS THE CASE MAY BE.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act does
the provisions of this Act creating 5 County Commissioner
Districts do not affect the members of the Board of County
Commissioners during their current terms of office. The changes
in election districts; and in the number of County Commissioners
to be elected from those districts, and shall apply beginning
with the term of the County Commissioners beginning next after
the election to be held in 1986.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 6-l(b)
as enacted by this Act creating the 5 County Commissioner
Districts shall apply to the election to be held in 1986 and
Section 6-l(c) as enacted by this Act establishing and
reestablishing the County Commissioner Districts according to the
decennial census shall apply beginning with the decennial census
in 1990.

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That before this Act
becomes effective it shall first be submitted to a referendum of
the legally qualified voters of Dorchester County at the general
election to be held in November of 1984. The Board of County
Commissioners and the Board of Supervisors of Elections of
Dorchester County shall do those things necessary and proper to
provide for and hold the referendum here required. There shall be
printed on the ballots or ballot labels to be used at this
election the title of this Act and underneath the title, on
separate lines, a square or box to the right of and opposite the
words: "For Revised Commissioner Districts" and a corresponding
square or box to the right of and opposite the words "Against
Revised Commissioner Districts" so that each voter of the county
may designate his or her decision for or against the provisions