More Than 10,300 Apply To Serve On California 2020 Redistricting Commission
WASHINGTON – With a week to go before the filing deadline, more than 10,300 Californians have applied to serve on the state’s 14-member Citizens Redistricting Commission.
“This is great news for direct democracy,” said Elaine M. Howle, California’s state auditor, as she made the number public.
She also vowed that she and her staff would “continue working to encourage even more eligible individuals” to apply before the deadline for the initial application period expires on August 9.
The independent districting commission was authorized through a ballot initiative, the Voters FIRST Act, that passed with overwhelming public support in 2008.
By law it is composed of five Democrats, five Republicans, and four individuals who are either registered with another party or declined to pick a party preference when they registered to vote.
Such was the excitement the first time around that more than 31,000 applied to be part of the inaugural panel.
The first group of commissioners was charged with drawing only the state legislative map, but after the 2010 passage of California Proposition 20, the Voters First Act for Congress, their mandate was expanded to include redrawing the state’s U.S. congressional district boundaries as well.
The state auditor’s office said in a release that it is seeking eligible residents who have strong analytical skills, an ability to be impartial, and an appreciation for California’s diversity.
Individuals seeking application data, eligibility requirements, or wanting to apply to be a member of the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission, can do so here.
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