8 lessons for Michigan from California’s redistricting commission
Michigan voters approved the creation of a bipartisan redistricting commission in the 2018 election. Past redistricting efforts have been led by the state Legislature, which — for the last decade — has resulted in some of the nation’s most gerrymandered legislative districts. During a meeting with four of 14 California redistricting commissioners, a couple of…
Proposed redistricting maps unveiled during KCCD meeting
The Kern Community College District board of trustees was presented with four proposed maps showing new trustee area boundary lines during its third public hearing on redistricting Thursday. The KCCD is undergoing a redistricting process “to align the District with the requirements of the California (Voting) Rights Act,” according to Chancellor Thomas Burke. The district’s last redistricting was in 2012….
Retired judges sought to serve on panel for 2020 Redistricting Commission
The City Attorney’s Office is seeking retired judges willing to serve as the Appointing Authority that will select the volunteer members of the 2020 Redistricting Commission. The Commission, an independent citizens’ panel, will be responsible for drawing and adjusting the boundaries of the City’s nine City Council districts to comply with local and federal laws…
Retired Judges Sought for Redistricting Commission
The City Attorney’s Office is seeking retired judges willing to serve as the Appointing Authority that will select the volunteer members of the 2020 Redistricting Commission. The Commission, an independent citizens’ panel, will be responsible for drawing and adjusting the boundaries of the city’s nine City Council districts to comply with local and federal laws…
Census estimates: Redistricting ahead for California, New York and Texas
The Census Bureau gave a peek at a coming battle within states nationwide over the shape of the country’s congressional district map, with its latest population estimates hinting at fights within Texas, New York, California, Alabama and other states. Those estimates give demographers and mapmakers the last hint of how the 2020 census will divvy…
Kern Community College District to undergo redistricting process to align with California Voting Rights Act
The Kern Community College District is in the early stages of a redistricting process that could potentially affect all trustee representation areas, according to district Chancellor Thomas Burke. At Thursday’s board meeting, an initial public hearing was held to educate the board of trustees on the redistricting process. No updated boundary maps were shown and…
U. professor holds town hall on gerrymandering with California’s Citizen Redistricting Commission
Molecular biology and neuroscience professor and director of the Princeton Gerrymandering Project Sam Wang moderated a town hall panel that featured three members of the California Citizen Redistricting Commission on Thursday, Nov. 14. Princeton Gerrymandering Project co-hosted this town hall, titled “Ending Gerrymandering with People-Powered Reforms,” along with the League of Women Voters and Fair…
It Was Redistricting, Not Prop 187, That Turned California Blue
It’s the 25th anniversary of Prop 187, California’s infamous attempt to cut off public benefits for undocumented immigrants, so it’s getting a suddenly renewed wave of attention. For the record, Prop 187 passed but was then struck down by the courts, so it never took effect. Nonetheless, it inspired a wave of protest from Hispanics…
CA120: Local redistricting comes into the daylight
California has become a model for non-partisan, transparent, open and fair redistricting. The state commission’s focus on legitimate redistricting practices — like enforcing the federal Voting Rights Act, preserving communities of interest, reducing any splitting of cities and counties, even drawing lines without regard to partisanship or incumbency — have earned praise among policymakers and…
Shut-offs force deadline extension for California’s redistricting committee
SACRAMENTO — The California State Auditor has extended the deadline for applications to the 2020 Redistricting Commission, as Pacific Gas & Electric Corp.’s power shutoffs have affected Californians’ ability to apply online. The new deadline is Sunday, Oct. 20, before midnight. The supplemental application period was previously set to close on Oct. 13. The process…
Editorial: California’s redistricting commission can be a national model. First make it one for the state.
The state’s independent redistricting commission has the crucial job of redrawing new congressional and legislative districts for California politicians and voters every 10 years to limit gerrymandering and, by extension, excessive partisanship. It is being assembled now, not unlike the Avengers. That’s no exaggeration. A 2010 commission member told CalMatters the effort is akin to “saving democracy”…
Greatest head count in US history nearing launch
With just a few months left before America starts taking its biggest-ever self-portrait, the U.S. Census Bureau is grappling with a host of concerns about the head count, including how to ensure that it is secure and accurate and the challenge of getting most people to answer questions online. All of that is on top…