Redistricting and Creating Fair Elections
Congressional, State and Regional Redistricting
The U.S. Constitution requires a census, a count of the entire population, to be taken every ten years. In California, a 14-member Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC) redraws the lines for our Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts. The Commission is made up of five Republicans, five Democrats, and four members not affiliated with either of those two parties.
See new Congressional District maps and California Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization maps HERE. Slower population growth in California over the last ten years means that the state lost one of its 53 U.S. House seats in redistricting. Palo Alto is now in Congressional District 16. More information and analysis can be found here. Regional Redistricting Four county and regional agencies are responsible for drawing their district lines. One of ours, Foothill-De Anza Community College District, is drawing districts for the first time. New County Supervisorial Districts can be found here. Valley Water On January 25, 2022, Draft Map Plan 2 was adopted as final. By zooming in, you can view all the newly redistricted boundaries. Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Ward Redistricting can be found here. Final map will be approved on April 15, 2022. Foothill-DeAnza Community College District is transitioning from “at-large” to “by-district” elections. On Feb. 14, 2022, the Board of Trustees adopted a final trustee area election map that will be used starting in November 2022. The district will phase in, or sequence, the new election system with some areas holding elections in 2022 and others in 2024. Elections for Area 5, which includes Palo Alto, will be held in 2024. Read more details here. Other Resources LWVC Redistricting in CA Fact Sheet - one-pager that answers your important questions California Common Cause 2021 Redistricting Information Redistricting in California Workshop (YouTube): Mapping, Demographics & the Law |
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