Redistricting, 2011 League of California Cities

1. Redistricting, 2011 League of California Cities

2. What is Redistricting definition • Redistricting is the process of drawing district lines. It is done every 10 years after the release of the US Census. The well known examples are Congress and the legislature. • Cities, Counties, School Boards, Water Boards… All elected bodies do redistricting. • Reapportionment is the process of assigning congressional seats to states.

3. What is Redistricting? the Gerrymander The term Gerrymander came from a cartoon depicting a rather serpentine looking district created by Governor Elbrige Gerry in Massachusetts.

4. What is Redistricting the Gerrymander There are legislative lines that look a lot like the original Gerrymander!

5. What is Redistricting Why should anyone care?

6. What is Redistricting Why should anyone care?

7. What is Redistricting Why should anyone care?

8. What is Redistricting Federal VRA and State CVRA • Districting is the creation of areas, wards or districts where all voters in that area select their representative. • VRA is the Federal Voting Rights Act which oversees all election systems, including redistricting. • CVRA is the California Voting Rights Act– it pushes most at-large systems into districted elections based on an analysis of populations and voting patterns.

9. Traditional Redistricting Principles Should be followed by Community College Districts • There are a number of criteria that have been used nationally and upheld by courts. • Relatively equal size - people, not citizens • Contiguous – districts should not hop/jump • Maintain communities of interest • Follow city/county/local government lines • Keep districts compact – appearance/function • Preserving voter choices (incumbents)

10. Creating districts of equal size Basic reason for redistricting • A basic rule of redistricting • is one-person / one-vote. • Democratic principle which • in redistricting means • districts should have • minimal variation.

11. Creating districts of equal size Some have major variations • In this sample from a California Community College, the variation between the smallest and largest ward is 56% from the mean.

12. Communities of Interest Keeping similar voters together • Generally thought of as: • Race / Ethnicity • Socioeconomic • Language • Religious

13. Communities of Interest Keeping similar voters together • Generally thought of as: • Race / Ethnicity • Socioeconomic • Language • Religious • Can also include: • Issues • Voting patterns • Workforce

14. Communities of Interest Keeping similar voters together California has self-sorted based on race, ethnicity as well as political views, household type, other values.

15. Communities of Interest Keeping similar voters together California has self-sorted based on race, ethnicity as well as political views, household type, other values. This is seen statewide as well as within individual cities.

16. Looking at City Changes Pasadena – Still waters mask turbulence Overall the City of Pasadena has had relatively flat growth 2000: 133,500 2010: 137,000

17. Looking at City Changes • Pasadena – Still waters mask turbulence However growth has been uneven, with the Green areas under the 210 Fwy gaining up to 28% in growth, while the red portion above 210 Fwy lost up to 12%.

18. Looking at City Changes • Pasadena – Still waters mask turbulence The City of Pasadena also has significant ethnic populations…. Asian Latino African American Armenian

19. Looking at City Changes • Pasadena – Still waters mask turbulence The City of Pasadena also has significant ethnic populations…. Asian Latino African American Armenian

20. Looking at City Changes • Pasadena – Still waters mask turbulence The City of Pasadena also has significant ethnic populations…. Asian Latino African American Armenian

21. Looking at City Changes • Pasadena – Still waters mask turbulence The City of Pasadena also has significant ethnic populations…. Asian Latino African American Armenian

22. Looking at City Changes • Pasadena Example In some areas the growth and losses of different populations has reshaped the city, while overall population has appeared stable. Asian (-6% to +189%) Latino African American

23. Looking at City Changes • Pasadena Example In some areas the growth and losses of different populations has reshaped the city, while overall population has appeared stable. Asian Latino (-15 to +65%) African American

24. Looking at City Changes Pasadena Example In some areas the growth and losses of different populations has reshaped the city, while overall population has appeared stable. Asian Latino African American (-46% to + 44%)

25. Looking at State Changes New Commission The State redistricting process has been transformed by Propositions 11 and 20 which have applied traditional redistricting principles – plus eliminated consideration of partisan advantage or candidate/incumbent residence.

26. Looking at State Changes New Commission Commission is charged with creating: 80 Assembly Districts Nested into 40 Senate Districts Nested into 4 BOE seats 53 Congressional Seats 177 seats, draft plans by June 10th, Final Plans by August 15th.

27. Looking at State Changes New Commission Cook Political Report Congressional Plan Organizations and individuals are drafting plans, and finding that it isn’t as easy as they thought!

28. Looking at State Changes New Commission Cook Political Report Congressional Plan One significant challenge is the Voting Rights Act, which will protect a number of districts from the other commission rules.

29. Looking at State Changes New Commission An area like this can look like a mess – and it seems anyone could fix these districts.

30. Looking at State Changes New Commission But the VRA will lock in a number of these seemingly gerrymandered seats. They will be redrawn, but cannot have their ethnic population retrogressed.

31. Looking at State Changes New Commission The Commission Process is also going to make tough decisions even harder to make.

32. Looking at State Changes New Commission

33. Looking at State Changes New Commission