By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – With the 2010 Census complete and numbers returning to state and local leaders, the topic of redistricting state and local boundaries is now becoming a key talking point among state legislators.

Based on population numbers collected in the Census, Louisiana’s congressional districts will drop from seven to six and state leaders have been in heated debates over how to re-divide the districts. Much of the debate has centered on the current third congressional district, which includes all three River Parishes. The district will be divided into other existing districts, but the question is how.

Three options have emerged that each paints a different picture when it comes to dividing the districts. With talks anticipated to continue throughout the spring, L’Observateur asked visitors to its website which of the three options is the best fit for the state and voters were incredibly split on the response.

Of the three options on the table, 28 percent of those who voted said they would be in favor of a plan to create a large coastal district that would move the 3rd Congressional District north into the western Florida Parishes and the areas around Baton Rouge.

The other two options on the table each received 22 percent of the vote, while a “none of the above” option also garnered 28 percent of the vote. The high number of none of the above votes can likely be attributed to the fact that none of the options keep the River Parishes together in one district. St. John, St. James and St. Charles parishes are all likely to be split among multiple districts.

A complete rundown of the results follows:

• 28 percent of respondents chose “A plan that creates a large coastal district, which would move the 3rd Congressional District north into the western Florida Parishes and the areas around Baton Rouge.”

• 22 percent of respondents chose “A plan that creates a large district across central Louisiana and that extends the 3rd Congressional District north to the areas around Baton Rouge but takes away the areas around Plaquemine Parish.”

• 22 percent of respondents chose “A plan that splits the 3rd Congressional District between two large coastal districts, which would move the 3rd Congressional District to the Northshore.”

• 28 percent of respondents chose “None of the above.”