Step 3. Repeat the procedure in Step 2 with additional levels of smaller political subdivisions.

Try to divide each political subdivision at most one time more than the minimum necessary based on its population. That is, avoid dividing a political subdivision with a population less than the district target population more than once.

Also, to prevent fragmentation, try to keep the number of divided subdivisions to no more than the number of districts included in the larger encompassing subdivision. For example, in a county divided among three districts, divide no more than three of its municipalities.

At each level, no more than one political subdivision should be split between any pair of adjacent districts. Unless impossible to draft otherwise, each political subdivision should be divided at most one time more than the minimum necessary based on its population. This means a political subdivision with a population less than the district target population may be divided no more than once. The total number of subdivision splits for each level (e.g., county, municipality) over the entire plan (wherein subdivisions split more than once counting for multiple splits) shall not be more than the number of districts required. In addition, the number of smaller subdivisions that are divided shall be no more than the number of districts included in the larger encompassing subdivision. For example, in a county divided among three districts, no more than three municipalities shall be divided. This rule prevents fragmentation of political subdivisions.

The final step in the two examples focuses on census blocks within the two regions selected in the prior step – Forward Township in Butler County, and Salford Township in Montgomery County. Both small townships include one Voter Tabulation District each.

A  In Forward Township, moving all the population from District 16 to District 15 left the total District 16 population a bit low at 763,892 persons. Returning 973 persons who reside in 29 township Census Blocks yields exactly the target population of 764,865 persons.

B  Similarly, adding all eleven municipalities to the District 1 population brought the population to 766,087 persons, a bit too high. Returning to District 4 a total of 1,222 persons living in 26 Census Blocks in Salford Township in Montgomery County, brings the District 1 population to 764,865 persons, the target population.