Redistricting initiative makes California ballot

The Associated Press

June 17, 2008

SACRAMENTO - An initiative that would create a 14-member commission to draw state legislative districts has become the 11th measure to qualify for California's November ballot.

The secretary of state's office said Tuesday that the proposal by Common Cause, the League of Women Voters and other groups collected more than the 694,354 voter signatures it needed.

The initiative would create a commission that would redraw districts for the state Assembly, Senate and tax-collecting Board of Equalization after each national census. The Legislature would continue to draw congressional districts.

Critics say allowing the Legislature to draw its own districts is a conflict of interest. But California voters have rejected four previous attempts since 1982 to take redistricting powers away from lawmakers.

The commission's members would be chosen randomly by the state auditor, who would select them from a pool of voters. The commission would have five Democrats, five Republicans and four members unaffiliated with either party.

Nine votes would be required to approve district maps.