RepresentUs is America’s leading nonpartisan anti-corruption organization fighting to fix our broken and ineffective government. We unite people across the political spectrum to pass laws that hold corrupt politicians accountable, defeat special interests, and force the government to meet the needs of the American people.

CALIFORNIA

https://represent.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Gerrymandering-Threat-Index-May-6.pdf

Threat 1: Can politicians control how election maps are drawn?

The independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission is composed of 14 members, 5 from
both major parties and 4 unregistered independents. First, the 120 most qualified candidates are
interviewed by the Applicant Review Panel, 60 divided evenly across party affiliations are selected.
The Legislature can then remove up to 24 candidates before passing the pool to the State Auditor
who randomly selects the first 8 commissioners. These 8 members then choose the remaining
six. According to the State Constitution, the Commission must be “independent from legislative
influence and reasonably representative of [the] State’s diversity.” Commissioners cannot have held
party officer positions 10 year prior to selection, and they cannot have ever held political office,
worked as a lobbyist, or contributed large amounts to political campaigns. To approve final maps,
9 affirmative votes are required, 3 from each of the 2 major political parties and 3 unaffiliated
members. Final maps may be subject to referendum if one is requested.

Following the 2020 Census, California will lose a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, which
could lead to a larger fight over how to draw the remaining congressional districts

LOW RISK