Redistricting

Redistricting Reform in California

When proponents sought to reform redistricting in California by taking it out of the hands of the Legislature and creating a new Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw lines, civil rights groups were more than skeptical. Generally, we agreed the fact that the Legislature could draw its own lines and essentially choose its own constituents was problematic to say the least. We recognized the back-room deal-making which governed this process often left citizens out in the cold while incumbents created "sweetheart deals" for themselves that would ensure their own re-election or the preservation of a seat for a particular political party.

However, we were unsure that a citizens commission could or would do any better for our communities. We were particularly wary of whether this new commission would reflect the diversity of our state, understand the complexity and importance of the Voting Rights Act, and actually engage the public in a way that would allow all voices to be heard and respected in drawing lines. Once voters passed Proposition 11 in 2008, creating the new commission, Greenlining Institute knew it would have to be involved to help ensure that voices of communities of color were included in the dialogue.

One redistricting cycle later, see a summary presentation on our findings on the new process:

Redistricting California: A Post Line-drawing Analysis [presentation]

Contacts for this Program

Michelle Romero, Program Manager, Email: micheller@greenlining.org, Ph: (510) 926-4014