Proposition 11: Redistricting

From Mobilize the Immigrant Vote!

What is the Redistricting Constitutional Amendment and Statute?

Currently, redistricting lines are drawn for Congress and State Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization districts every ten years. These district lines are drawn by the California State Legislature, which relies upon a practice known as "gerrymandering." This is a process in which political parties make deals to turn "swing" electoral districts into "safe" electoral districts. For example, the process could cause district A to become a majority-Republican district and district B to become majority-Democrat, etc. Proposition 11 will:

• Create a two-track redistricting process whereby a new 14-person redistricting commission will draw redistricting lines for state Assembly, Senate and Board of Equalization districts, and the state legislature will continue to establish boundaries for federal Congressional districts;
• The independent 14-person redistricting commission will be drawn from a pool of 60 candidates (20 Democrats, 20 Republicans, 20 other) chosen by a review panel from the State Auditor Controller’s office. The 14 members (5 Republicans, 5 Democrats and 4 others) are selected;
• The public will be given the opportunity to discuss redistricting proposals at public hearings.

What do supporters of Proposition 11 say?

• Supporters are calling it the “California Voters First Act”;
• It would eliminate “the most egregious conflicts of interest,” which is allowing legislators to “carve” their own district lines;
• In recent elections, 99% of incumbent politicians were re-elected due to the “carving” of district lines
• Future redistricting efforts would allow legislators to "govern from the center, rather than from the extremes”;
• The measure would increase transparency and redistricting will no longer be controlled by the party in power;
• The 14 member commission will be “politically balanced”;
• The State Auditor will narrow down applicants based on qualifications and diversity.

What do opponents of Proposition 11 say?

• It puts minority voters last. It is a flawed strategy for achieving open and accountable redistricting, which fails to guarantee diversity, expertise or accountability within the commission it creates;
• It is full of “unrealistic goals” and “harmful rules” that are detrimental for a number of reasons:
• Congressional redistricting is not included, creating 2 systems with 2 distinct sets of rules;
• The redistricting criteria restricts the Voting Rights Act and presents dangers to California’s minority communities;
• There is no requirement that the Commission membership be diverse, only that the Commissioners must have an “appreciation for California’s diverse demographics and geography”;
• Overly complex Selection Process and rules will create an under-qualified body.

Who supports Proposition 11?

New bi-partisan group California Forward, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steve Westly, Former State Controller, California Common Cause, League of Women Voters, AARP, LA Chamber of Commerce, ACLU, California Business Roundtable, City of Pasadena

Who opposes Proposition 11?

NALEO, MALDEF, William C. Velasquez Institute, NAACP, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, Kevin McCarthy Rep. Bakersfield

(Partial Lists)