Opinion ID: 844224
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The redistricting process

Text: California Constitution, article XXI, section 2, subdivision (b) and related statutes establish a public redistricting process. The constitutional provision requires the Commission to “conduct an open and transparent process enabling full public consideration of and comment on the drawing of district lines.” Section 8253 implements that charge, and requires the Commission to “establish and implement an open hearing process for public input and deliberation that shall be subject to public notice and promoted through a thorough outreach program to solicit broad public participation in the redistricting public review process. The hearing process shall include hearings to receive public input before the commission draws any maps, and hearings following the drawing and display of any commission maps. In addition, hearings shall be supplemented with other activities as appropriate to further increase opportunities for the public to observe and participate in the review process. The commission shall display the maps for public comment in a manner designed to achieve the widest public access reasonably possible. Public comment shall be taken for at least 14 days from the date of public display of any map.” (§ 8253, subd. (a)(7).) The Commission was sworn in during the month of January 2011, and conducted an open bidding process to hire independent counsel and experts to advise it on matters related to the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. § 1973 et seq.) (Voting Rights Act) and technical issues. It thereafter held more than 70 business meetings and 34 public hearings in 32 cities throughout the state. (Final Rep., at p. 4.) Generally, the Commission’s hearings were scheduled in the early evening hours at school or government locations in the center of a community, making it convenient for “average citizens” to participate. (Ibid.) It regularly allowed public input and comment at its business meetings as well. (Ibid.) Its educational materials were broadly distributed in English and six other languages (Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese), and it ultimately received, in addition to oral testimony, more than 2,000 16 written submissions, including maps reflecting statewide, regional, or other districts. (Ibid.; see also Final Rep., at pp. 3-5 [listing representative groups providing submissions and other testimony].) The Commission’s staff received “written comments, input and suggestions from more than 20,000 individuals and groups.” (Id., at p. 5.) The Commission held 23 public input hearings before issuing a set of its draft maps in June of 2011. After a five-day public review period, it held 11 more public input hearings around the state to collect reactions to and comments concerning those draft maps. (Ibid.) It held 22 business meetings in Sacramento to discuss the draft maps, at which more than 276 people appeared and commented. All of the Commission’s public meetings were “livestreamed,” captured on video, and placed on the Commission’s Web site for public viewing. All of the Commission’s completed documents, and those of its staff, were posted on the Commission’s Web site for public viewing as well. (Ibid.) All such materials remain archived on the Commission’s Web site, (as of Jan. 27, 2012). Pursuant to California Constitution, article XXI, section 2, subdivision (c)(5), the structure of the Commission’s vote on each map mirrored the balanced process described above, under which the Commission’s members were selected. An affirmative vote on each map was required to be supported by a supermajority of at least nine Commission members, including three from each subpool of members: those registered with the largest political party in California (that is, three Democrats), those registered with the second largest political party (that is, three Republicans), and three who are not registered with either major party. With regard to the state Senate map — the subject of the proposed referendum — the Commission’s vote was 13 to 1 in favor.