2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission releases draft maps ahead of deadline
The 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission released draft maps for the state’s congressional, senate, assembly and board of equalization districts ahead of the California Supreme Court mandated Nov. 15, 2021 deadline.
“We are finally here,” said Commission Chair Trena Turner. “We proudly present these draft maps to the people of California as a starting point for public discussion. These are not intended to be final maps and we strongly encourage Californians to continue weighing in until we get it right. A global pandemic and delayed census data would not stop this commission from delivering on its promise to create maps that encourage fair representation. We will have final maps completed and certified by the Dec. 27, 2021 deadline. There is still plenty of time for the public to get involved. We urge you to join us because everything is on the lines.” Using the multitude of communities of interest testimony the commission received throughout the summer, it assessed how that testimony could potentially inform district boundaries considering the tradeoffs that needed to be made in eventual maps. The commission produced three sets of visualizations (October 27-29, Nov. 2-4 and Nov. 7-9) that incorporated additional public input to evolve into draft maps.
Draft maps can be found at wedrawthelinesca.org/draft_maps.
The commission encourages the public to provide feedback using this form: airtable.com/shrQDD2ta2emnSzzO.
Public comment shall be taken for at least 14 days from the date of public display of the first preliminary statewide (draft) maps of the congressional, state senatorial, assembly and state board of equalization districts. The commission shall not display any other map for public comment during the 14-day period.
Draft Map public input meeting schedule
- Nov. 17 —Congressional district feedback.
- Nov. 18—Assembly district feedback.
- Nov. 19 —Senate district feedback.
- Nov. 20 —Board of Equalization and any district feedback.
- Nov. 22 —Any district feedback.
- Nov.23—Any district feedback.
Public input meeting appointments can be made at wedrawthelinesca.org/draft_maps_public_input
In accordance with the California Constitution, the commission followed these criteria, in this order, to draw district maps
- Districts must be of equal population to comply with the U.S. Constitution.
- Districts must comply with the Voting Rights Act to ensure that minorities have an equal opportunity to elect representatives of their choice.
- Districts must be drawn contiguously, so that all parts of the district are connected to each other.
- Districts must minimize the division of cities, counties, neighborhoods and communities of interest to the extent possible.
- Districts should be geographically compact: such that nearby areas of population are not bypassed for a more distant population. This requirement refers to density, not shape. Census blocks cannot be split.
- Where practicable each senate district should be comprised of two complete and adjacent assembly districts, and board of equalization districts should be comprised of 10 complete and adjacent state senate districts.
- In addition, the place of residence of any incumbent or political candidate may not be considered in the creation of a map, and districts may not be drawn for the purpose of favoring or discriminating against an incumbent, political candidate, or political party.
Every 10 years, after the federal government publishes updated census information, California must redraw the boundaries of its electoral districts so that the state’s population is evenly allocated among the new districts.
In 2008, California voters passed the Voters First Act, authorizing the creation of the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw new state senate, state assembly and state board of Eequalization district lines.
In 2010, the Voters First Act for Congress gave the commission the responsibility of drawing new Congressional districts following every census.
For more information, visit WeDrawTheLinesCA.org.