Dec. 23, 2009 - The new California Citizens Redistricting Commission is now inviting applications for membership. Commissioners will help draw the lines of California's Assembly, Senate and Board of Equalization districts. You may qualify for membership. Commissioners will be compensated for their time.
In 2008, California voters approved (in Proposition 11) the creation of an Independent Redistricting Commission of 14 members to draw the lines creating the state's electoral districts. Previously, the legislature drew the districts. The commission will be comprised of California citizens — 5 Democrats, 5 Republicans, and 4 persons who are members of neither major party. The commission must also, among other things, represent California's geographic, racial, and gender make-up.
The application process has been open for a week and already more than 3,000 applications have been submitted. More than 80% of those applicants have been deemed tentatively eligible to serve.
Who has applied to this commission so far? With respect to party affiliation, a little over 40% are Democrats, about 37% are Republicans, and about 15% are Decline to State. About 24% of the applicants reside in Sacramento, and 14% have applied from Los Angeles County. Approximately 23% of the applicants are female. In terms of race, approximately 80% of applicants are white, 9% are Hispanic or Latino, 3.5% are African American, and 3.5% are Asian.
Applicants must file two applications; (1) an initial application, which asks applicants for basic information such as name and address and answers to about 30 yes or no questions; and (2) for those who qualify for the next round of the process, a longer supplemental application which asks applicants to respond to short essay questions. The application process includes the following steps:
* Initial applications are due online by February 12, 2010. The State Auditor's Office will perform an initial screening and notify both qualified and non-qualified candidates.
* February 16-April 2, 2010: qualified candidates file a supplemental application.
* April 7-July 19, 2010: the Applicant Review Panel (ARP), made up of 3 members of the State Auditor's Office, identify the 120 most qualified applicants.
* July 20-September 13, 2010: the ARP interviews the 120 applicants.
* September 14-September 30, 2010: the ARP selects the 60 most qualified applicants. The ARP sends its list of the 60 most qualified applicants to the legislature.
* October 1-November 15, 2010: the legislature can strike up to 24 applicants.
* By November 20, 2010, the State Auditor randomly selects 8 commissioners from the 36-60 applicants. Those 8 commissioners will select the remaining 6 commissioners from the now 28-52 person applicant pool.
We encourage you to apply to be a member of this very important commission.
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