Surge in applications for Citizens Redistricting Commission

SACRAMENTO
February 8, 2010 11:43am

There’s been a last-minute surge in applications being submitted for a seat on the 14-member Citizens Redistricting Commission, which will reshape California’s state office political district boundaries, says state Auditor Elaine Howle.

As of Monday morning, more than 19,900 applications had been submitted, she says.

Last year voters approved taking the task of drawing the lines out of the hands of politicians, who had been criticized for creating weirdly-shaped districts to protect incumbents.

The voters created a commission to draw the new state Senate, Assembly, and Board of Equalization district lines based the 2010 Census and charged the California State Auditor with creating the Commission.

"Since the opening of the application period on Dec. 15, 2009, we have seen a steady stream of applications submitted," says Ms. Howle, "but the recent surge in applications leads me to believe that many more Californians who may want to take advantage of the opportunity are just now tuning into the opportunity.

“Clearly the statewide radio spots that are running, the increased press attention, the outreach by other organizations, and all of our other outreach efforts have led to a sharp increase in applications,” she says. “We received more than 600 applications during one eight hour period alone. Nothing in the Voters FIRST Act requires me to end the application period this week, so I am extending the application period four days to after the President's Day holiday weekend. The application period will now close on Feb, 16 at 5 p.m."

Every 10 years after the census, California goes through the process of redrawing the political districts from which representatives of the state Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization are elected.

The Commission is open to registered California voters who have been continuously registered in California with the same political party, or with no political party, for the five years immediately prior to being appointed to the Commission; and who have voted in at least two of the last three statewide general elections.

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"I asked my office to conduct an analysis of the number and flow of applications since we began accepting applications on Dec. 15. It is clear to me that for the last week, we have seen a huge increase. After the first day of radio advertising, we received nearly 1,000 applications and that surge has continued. With every passing day we are getting a broader cross-section of the public from all over the state. I'm thrilled with the surge and want to keep the process open a few more days to make sure that everyone who is interested has the opportunity to apply," says Ms. Howle.