How are voting districts determined?

In California, voting districts are determined by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. This commission is responsible for drawing up the boundaries for the state’s congressional, Assembly, and Board of Equalization districts. To ensure fairness, the commission consists of 14 members, five Democrats, five Republicans, and four from neither major party. The commission uses a variety of factors when drawing up the boundaries for voting districts, such as the following: population and population growth, geographic boundaries, geographic integrity, and communities of interest. The goal is to create districts that are equal in population and that keep counties, cities, and communities of interest together. To draw up the boundaries, the commission utilizes public input and data from the US Census. Commission members analyze existing districts, look at population trends and patterns, and review public comments before they make a decision on how to draw up the districts. After the districts are determined, they are submitted to the California Supreme Court for approval. Once the districts are approved, they will remain in effect for the next ten years until the next US Census is taken. This allows for fair and equal representation in the state of California.

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