NATCHEZ — It’s time to draw the line — six lines, to be exact.

The Natchez Board of Aldermen will have a special meeting at noon Monday to discuss redistricting its six wards.

The meeting comes in light of a federal lawsuit filed by former Natchez Mayor Phillip West and others who allege Natchez’s current wards dilute the black vote.

“They’re going to have to redraw the lines, because our numbers don’t line up,” said Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, who has voiced concern over balancing voting districts for several years.

Ward lines were last updated in 2000. State law requires cities to redistrict after every U.S. Census.

The last Census was taken in 2010.

Following the 2010 Census, the city submitted a redistricting plan in December 2011, only to receive a rejection stamp on May 1, 2012, which also happened to be city election day.

Natchez Mayor Butch Brown said he’s confident the city will be able to submit a new plan, and receive approval, before the city’s next election in May.

“Our city attorney (Hyde Carby) has engaged outside representation — a lawyer who is versed in redistricting and planner who specializes in this kind of thing — to make sure the lines are drawn properly,” Brown said.

The last redistricting plan, which had three majority-black wards and three majority-white wards, was denied pre-clearance by the U.S. Department of Justice because it didn’t accurately reflect the black voting population in Ward 5.

Brown said his goal for Monday’s meeting is for the board and the plaintiffs in the lawsuit — West, Mary Lee Toles, Jacqueline Marsaw and the Rev. Clifton Marvel — to agree on a redistricting plan that would allow for a balanced electorate.

“I have reached out to the plaintiff (West) and asked him to submit something for our consideration,” Brown said. “And my reasoning behind that is if there is something we can all agree on, that would save us time and money. I don’t think there is any reluctance on the part of the city or the board to adopt a plan, as long as it’s something that’s not wild and out of balance.”

The meeting is open to the public and will be inside the council chambers, 115 S. Pearl St.