The California Redistricting Commission is working to prepare new district maps reflecting accurate population distribution by the end of the year, after the California Supreme Court ruled against the commission’s motion to extend the deadline to Jan. 14, 2022.
The Supreme Court’s ruling also directs the commission to release, “the first preliminary statewide maps for the congressional, State Senatorial, Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts for public display and comment no later than November 13, 2021 (because this date falls on a Saturday, it is extended to November 15, 2021.”
The Supreme Court issued the order on Sept. 22.
“The Commission was disappointed that the California Supreme Court did not agree with its justification for a January 14 deadline to submit final maps to the California Secretary of State,” Fredy Ceja, communications director for the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, said in an email response to the Northern California Record. “The relief sought by the Commission’s motion aimed to preserve the maximum opportunity for the public to be involved throughout the redistricting process by instituting a January 14, 2022 deadline, and for the Commission to be able to receive and respond to the public’s input, while adhering as closely as possible to the framework envisioned and adopted by the Voters First Act.
The commission had filed its request for the extension on Aug. 20, and it remains to be seen how the high court’s ruling will impact the process.
“We heard from the advocacy organizations that their ability to organize and get their constituencies involved in the redistricting process would be slowed by the holidays,” Ceja said.
The petition was filed after U.S. Census data was released in early August, 12 days later than anticipated. While the Supreme Court granted an additional 12 days, it declined to extend until January.
The candidate filing process is scheduled by the Secretary of State to begin on Jan. 3. California’s statewide primary next year takes place on June 7.
Public participation is critical to the redistricting procedure, Ceja said.
“Phase I was educating Californians about the process and Phase II was a push to gather Communities of Interest testimony,” Ceja said. “Phase III is line drawing. Commissioners are holding line drawing sessions where they ask the line drawing team for visualizations of geographic areas based on the input received thus far. Our first preliminary maps are targeted to be out on November 10.”
There were more than 20,000 applicants for the 14-member redistricting commission, which consists of five Democrats, five Republicans, and four who are registered as No Party Preference.
The commission has until Dec. 27 to submit final maps to the Secretary of State. Once the commission sends them in, they are official, Ceja said.
“Once certified to the SOS, the maps become official,” Ceja said. “There are usually legal challenges and the CA Supreme Court will rule over the validity of those suits.”