Panelists Needed for California's Redistricting Commission

Time is running out to submit an application to serve on a panel that will redraw California’s legislative districts. People interested in serving on the panel only have until Feb. 12 when the application process will close.

The Citizens Redistricting Commission was created by last year’s passage of Proposition 11, which shifts the responsibility for drawing legislative district boundaries from the Legislature to a 14-member panel of California residents.

The state auditor will review applications and develop a pool of 60 candidates, from which the 14 commission members will be chosen. The panel will have five Democrats, five Republicans and four members of other parties or people with no political affiliation.

Applications are open to every registered California voter who has been registered in California with the same political party, or with no political party, for the five years immediately prior to being appointed to the commission, and who has voted in at least two of the last three statewide general elections.

Last month, a local advocacy group urged Latino civic leaders to try to serve on the panel.

“The Citizens RedistrictingCommission will develop maps that will be required to comply with federal law to ensure that Latino voters have a fair opportunity to elect the candidates of their choice during state elections,” said Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund.

“It is critical that Latinos have a voice on the commission that will determine the contours of California’s representative democracy for the next 10 years,” he said.

Applications are available only online at www.WeDrawtheLines.ca.gov.

District boundaries are redrawn every 10 years to reflect changes in population determined by the U.S. Census.

“This is an exciting time in our state’s history,” said state Auditor Elaine M. Howle. “This is the first commission of its kind in the United States, and we’re ready to take this next step. We’ve already established regulations and laid the foundation for creating the 14-member commission.”