Support California Redistricting by Helping to Gather Signatures for November 2008 Ballot Initiative

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Joanne McKray

Gerrymandering is a long-standing tradition in US political history. It is not a time-honored one, because it makes our government less representative of its citizens. Gerrymandering in the State of California means that certain cities, counties, and groups bound by common interests end up with diluted or nonexistent voice in Sacramento.

The situation is the result of the fact that in our state legislators draw the boundaries of their own voting districts, an obvious conflict of interest. Beyond Constitutional requirements to create districts with equal numbers of voting citizens, they are bound by few rules. So, with the goal (achieved with 99% success) of seeing that incumbents are reelected, legislators slice and dice cities and neighborhoods at will.

Gerrymandered districts are common, but not inevitable. In at least six states Independent Citizen Commissions do the redistricting once a decade following the census, with a mandate to create a map designed, not to favor incumbents or any political party, but rather to see that diverse voices have balanced and fair representation.

A drive to collect signatures for a ballot measure to create such a commission in California, entitled the California Voters First Initiative, is currently underway. The Attorney General's summary of its chief purposes and points states:

"Creates 14-member redistricting commission responsible for drawing new district lines for State Senate, Assembly, and Board of Equalization districts. Requires State Auditor to randomly select commission members from voter applicant pool to create a commission with five members from each of the two largest political parties, and four members unaffiliated with either political party. Requires nine votes to approve final district maps. Establishes standards for drawing new lines, including respecting the geographic integrity of neighborhoods and encouraging geographic compactness. Permits State Legislature to draw lines for congressional districts subject to these standards..."
The citizen applicants for the commission would be vetted for their impartiality, skills, and diversity, given appropriate staff assistance, and operate in public.

How would passage of such a measure change the political landscape in California?

First and foremost it would create a fair and open process for post-census redrawing of voting district boundaries, one that would eliminate back-room deals whereby voters are traded and districts are contorted by officials trying to ensure their own reelection.