It’s hard to miss all the discussion about gerrymandering and political monkey business with congressional districts in the news media. But California law requires that boundaries of our Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts be drawn by a 14-member commission of citizens selected by the California State Auditor’s Office, a state entity that is independent of the executive branch and legislative control.
In 2008, California voters passed the Voters FIRST Act authorizing the creation of an independent Commission comprised of 14 members. The 2020 Commission will include five Democrats, five Republicans, and four who are either registered without, or “independent” of, any political party (decline-to-state or no party preference) or with another party. The Commission is responsible for drawing the lines of each district.
Here’s your chance to participate! The State Auditor is now accepting applications from interested citizens until August 9, 2019.
The initial application is open to every registered voter who has been registered with the same political party or with no political party since July 1, 2015 and has voted in at least two of the last three statewide general elections. Information requested through the initial application is used to determine initial eligibility requirements are met. A supplementary application will be made available at the end of the initial application period to the initial applicants who qualify.
The California State Auditor is tracking applicant demographic data on a daily basis by gender, ethnicity, political party, region and county. Updated Citizens Redistricting Commission application data is available to the public at https://applications.shapecaliforniasfuture.auditor.ca.gov/.
For more information, eligibility requirements, and to apply to the Commission, please visit shapecaliforniasfuture.auditor.ca.gov or call (833) 421–7550. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @ShapeCAFuture.
