Citizens Redistricting Commission of California
Origin: California Ballot Initiative
Bill Name/Number: California Proposition 11
Link: Click here
Summary: This measure amends the California Constitution to change the redistricting process for the state
Legislature, State Board of Equalization (BOE), and California Members of the U.S. House of Representatives,
beginning with the 2010 census. The measure shifts the responsibility for developing redistricting plans for
legislative and BOE districts from the Legislature to a 14 member Citizens Redistricting Commission.
Talking Points & Important Information:
• Proposition 11 of 2008, or the Voters FIRST Act, is a law enacted by California voters that took the job of
redistricting out of elected legislators’ hands because of their frustration with a process that served to protect
incumbents. The voters supported a new process which would choose 14 citizens with a variety of backgrounds,
skills, and from different geographic locations to draw district boundaries based on criteria designed to preserve
communities of interest and remove partisanship.
• It’s true that redistricting isn’t an issue that most voters are thinking about. Often, voters fail to recognize the
impact it has on other, more salient issues. Constituents respond to the idea of putting voters in charge and
giving them back the power – and the idea that redistricting reform will increase transparency and openness.
• 65 percent of all congressional districts in the country have a significant majority-winning advantage of 58
percent or higher. That is 284 congressional districts. And in these 284 congressional districts, lines are
drawn that can keep a community together or split it 'B