Need to Know: Redistricting is Here
Communities that vote together are stronger together. Every 10 years, new US Census data is used to draw new districts at the municipal, county, state, and federal level. This redistricting process is occurring right now! Our role is to ensure these new election districts amplify the voices of our communities.
So, why do we need districts in the first place? Districts help ensure equal representation. For example, in Butte County, without districts it would be entirely possible for all County Supervisors to live in one neighborhood of one city, leaving out the voices of smaller towns and rural areas, particularly those with lower incomes and less political sway. With districts, it’s far more likely that a smaller community like Oroville or Paradise can elect a representative who lives in or near their town and will advocate for their interests. Additionally, districts allow candidates with a smaller budget a greater chance of success by reducing the geographical area necessary for canvassing, traveling, and advertising. Finally, the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 requires voting districts be used when necessary to ensure that protected classes have the ability to influence the outcome of an election.
Unfortunately, contrary to their purpose of ensuring a fair political process, districts are often used for partisan gain. In 2011, the Butte County Board of Supervisors approved a map that intentionally lumped urban, progressive neighborhoods of South Chico including Barber into an otherwise overwhelmingly red rural district. Opponents saw it as an attempt to increase then-supervisor Larry Wahl’s reelection chances, giving rise to the local term “Larrymandering”, a spin on gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is the illegal practice of shaping electoral districts to favor one party, person, or race. We can prevent gerrymandering by making our voices heard and by documenting the communities that deserve a unified vote.
Examples of communities of interest can include cities, neighborhoods, areas where many residents speak the same language, or areas where the residents use the same community facilities. It’s basically any location where people have a common interest that needs a voice in government. The Butte County Board of Supervisors have a website with more information on redistricting as well as a great online tool called DistrictR for identifying the boundaries of your community and sharing what makes it a community. You can also use DistrictR to draw proposed supervisorial districts.
Community members have submitted various community of interest maps as well as proposed district boundary maps. Some folks even got creative with their maps (see Stripey Butte and more colorful names). We encourage drawing serious maps of your community of interest, and we encourage submitting comments on the Proposed Maps created by the County’s consultant mapmakers. Public comments can be submitted online, and community members can also register to speak at the November 9th board meeting.
A few of the citizen generated district maps - some real attempts and some amusing
We can also help shape the larger scale process of drawing California’s Congressional and State Legislative districts. California has a unique nonpartisan redistricting commission, a model that we should implement at our local and county level to avoid future partisan redistricting drama. More information on this redistricting commission and opportunities for public input can be found at wedrawthelinesca.org.
Chico City Council will begin their redistricting process next month. You may recall that we just went through this process two years ago, when two law firms threatened to sue the City if it did not create voting districts for compliance with the The California Voting Rights Act. Blatant partisanship abounded as incumbents prioritized shaping the districts so as to avoid running against each other, missing the entire point of creating districts where minority voters have a fair chance of electing representatives, and souring many Chico residents on the entire concept of districts.
This round, far-right members of our City Council and Board of Supervisors will almost certainly do their best to prioritize their own party at the expense of equality. Stay tuned for more information on how to provide your input in this process, or just to know when to grab the popcorn.
Guest Post from Bryce Goldstein, Chico Planning Commissioner
