What does losing a Congressional seat mean for CA?

The California Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission (CRC) was established in 2008 by California  voters with the passage of the Voters FIRST Act, which took the job of redistricting out of the hands of  the California Legislature and transferred it to the people. For the CRC to draft fair and representative  Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and Board of Equalization district maps, we need  communities to tell us about themselves and we also need 2020 Census data.  

States traditionally receive Census data by March 15. This year because of delays due to the pandemic,  the Census Bureau announced that Census data used for redistricting would be delivered to states by  September 30, 2021. The six-month Census data delay would make it impossible for the CRC to certify  maps by the original deadline of August 15. As the nation began to shut down early last year because of  COVID-19, California anticipated our deadlines would be derailed and provided a judicial extension for  the CRC to conduct its redistricting responsibilities.  

The CRC is working to create a new deadline for when the CRC must submit its final maps. We are  working to develop a timeline that includes significant public input in the process and will take into  account the pending deadlines for the 2022 elections.  

While we patiently wait for the arrival of United States Census data, Californians will have more time to  provide the CRC with key testimony about their communities, including identifying how they are  connected, where they are located, and if it is important to remain in the same district. On April 26,  2021, the U.S. Census Bureau released reapportionment numbers, the process of dividing the 435  memberships, or seats, in the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 states, announcing that  California would be assigned 52 congressional seats, one less than we currently have. When drawing  new electoral maps, the Commission must respect the boundaries of counties, cities and communities of  interest, to the best of their ability. 

The CRC is committed to creating an open, accessible, and transparent process for ALL Californians. To  achieve this, we need you to describe your Communities of Interest (COI). Communities are groups of  people with shared values and interests. Communities of interest can be a group of any size whose  members share cultural, economic, historical, and/or other shared interests. They are the people with  who you work, play, and live. A community by geography is defined by place. A community by identity is  defined by attributes. A community by affinity is defined by what we like. Individuals can belong to more  than one community. 

For the first time, you can submit Communities of Interest input to the CRC through the Communities of  Interest Mapping Tool (COI Tool), which is available at: www.DrawMyCACommunity.org. With a click of  a mouse, this tool allows you to describe, draw, and send your input to the Commission. It is available to  all Californians in multiple languages. 

We encourage you to talk with our neighbors and others in your communities to identify what makes  your community special? What is your community’s identity? And what are the issues that bind you  together? The CRC will use these community maps along with the Census data to draw the lines for 176 districts – 4 State Boards of Equalization, 40 State Senate, 80 State Assembly, and 52 Congressional.  

We invite you to visit our website for more information about the CRC, the redistricting process and our  upcoming business meetings: www.WeDrawTheLinesCA.org. There you will find our Community of  Interest Tool, where you can electronically submit a map and tell us your story. If you prefer paper and  pen, you will soon have the option to submit a paper Community of Interest form. 

Don’t pass up this opportunity to have your voice heard. This process only happens once every ten  years. 

We look forward to hearing from you soon.