Prop. 11's redistricting reform is critically needed

By Ann Batman

10/26/2008

ON NOV. 4, California voters will have the opportunity to ensure their voices are heard and to help make state elected officials more accountable to voters by passing Proposition 11.

Proposition 11 is critically needed because partisan gridlock prevents our state lawmakers from effectively addressing California 's most important issues.

Their inability to pass this year's budget is a prime example of their failure to cross party lines to conduct the people's business. We have seen partisan battles over many issues that California 's voters care about including health-care reform, education funding, water and the environment.

Contributing to this ongoing problem is the fact that legislators are allowed to draw their own district lines to guarantee their re-election. As a result, there is little competition between parties, our legislators are not accountable to voters, and 99 percent of incumbents are re-elected every year.

Reform of the redistricting process has been a core issue for the League of Women Voters of California for over 20 years. The League believes that the process should take place in an open, transparent manner with wide public input, that lines should be drawn according to strict, ranked criteria and that the body drawing the lines should be an independent body that is selected according to well-established conflict of interest rules.

Proposition 11 will change the way state legislative and Board of Equalization district boundaries are drawn by creating a 14-member independent redistricting commission that includes five Republicans, five Democrats and four members not affiliated with either party. Proposition 11 ensures a nonpartisan, open process with clear criteria.

The commission will have to draw fair districts that have reasonably equal population, minimize splitting of counties and cities, maintain communities of interest and neighborhoods, are geographically compact and do not favor or discriminate against incumbents, candidates or parties.

Proposition 11 enjoys broad, bipartisan support from around the state, including the League of Women Voters of California, AARP, California Common Cause, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gov. Gray Davis, former state Controller Steve Westly, the California Taxpayers' Association, the ACLU of Southern California, the California Chamber of Commerce and many others.

The status quo is not working for California .

By supporting Proposition 11, voters will help put the state on the right track by ending the redistricting conflict of interest and making lawmakers more accountable to voters.

We hope you will join us in supporting this important measure on Nov. 4. For more information visit www.yesprop11.org .

Ann Batman of Greenbrae is president of the League of Women Voters of Marin County.