(September 2, 2008) The California Chamber of Commerce is part of a broad coalition that is supporting 
Proposition 11, the November ballot measure to reform the redistricting process.
Proposition 11 creates a 14-member independent citizen commission to draw new boundary lines for the state Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization districts using non-partisan criteria.
It requires the state auditor to randomly select commission members from a voter applicant pool to create a commission with five members from each of the two largest political parties, and four members unaffiliated with either political party.
CalChamber Position
CalChamber President Allan Zaremberg is among the co-chairs for the Yes on Proposition 11 campaign.
The CalChamber has long believed that fair redistricting is the key to meaningful political reform. Proposition 11 will allow the citizens of California, rather than the Legislature, to create legislative districts that will help elected officials be more accountable to voters.
Commission Selection
The redistricting process established by Proposition 11 will begin in 2010 with subsequent redistricting each 10 years afterwards.
The state auditor (a position appointed by the Governor from among three candidates chosen by a joint legislative committee) opens the application process for the redistricting commission.
After the auditor removes persons with conflicts of interest, a three-person auditor panel picks 60 finalists — 20 Democrats, 20 Republicans and 20 others. From this group, the legislative leadership can remove eight from each group of 20.
The auditor then chooses eight commissioners and those eight choose the final six for the 14-member commission.
Criteria for Drawing Districts
Proposition 11 is designed to respect communities of interest. Current district boundaries, designed to protect incumbent legislators, include some districts that cut up counties, cities and communities.
Proposition 11 requires that districts comply with the federal Voting Rights Act and ensure that “the geographic integrity of any city, county, neighborhood or community of interest shall be respected.”
In addition, Proposition 11 calls for an open hearing process to permit public participation in the redistricting public review process.
Supporters
Proposition 11 is supported by a bipartisan coalition of consumer, senior, public interest, taxpayer, community and business groups and leaders.
Key proponents of Proposition 11 are California Common Cause, the American Association of Retired Persons and the League of Women Voters of California — all of which worked for two years to draft the initiative.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his support for the initiative after it was written.
More information is available at the campaign website at www.yesprop11.org.
Staff Contact: Jeanne Cain
