The Decatur County Board of Commissioners approved the county’s new redistricting lines Tuesday, and the map will now head to the state’s General Assembly for full approval.

According to a resolution approved Tuesday, the redistricting is required every 10 years as a result of updated figures by the U.S. Census. In 2010, the county’s population was 27,842, which is a decrease from the 28,240 population in 2000.

“The Commission Districts … must be reapportioned so as to provide for equal representation by and among each district as required by the United States Constitution and in a manner that complies with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965,” the resolution reads.

The board met Aug. 31 with the Decatur County Board of Education, in a public workshop, to discuss the redistricting plan. The plan has also been discussed in other county meetings.

“[This plan] would pass any muster by the Department of Justice,” County Staff Attorney Brown Moseley said Tuesday. “I’ve discussed it several times with Commissioner [C.T.] Stafford, and we are in agreement that the numbers certainly comport with the requirements of state and federal law.”

Moseley explained that the redistricting lines “don’t change a whole lot.” He said the fewest changes are in District 6, while the greatest changes are in Districts 1 and 4. District 6 primarily includes Brinson and northwest Decatur County; District 1 includes Attapulgus and southeast Decatur County; and District 4 is a small district in central Decatur County that includes most of southern Bainbridge.

“Again, those are minimal changes,” he said.

Moseley said that the school board will likely approve an identical resolution at their next meeting.