The Applicant Review Panel (panel) has announced that it concluded the last of its public meetings on May 7 and selected 60 of the most qualified applicants to move forward in the selection process for the 14-member 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission). Today the panel submitted the list of the 60 remaining applicants to the California State Legislature, where leadership has the option of removing up to 24 names from the list—eight from each sub-pool.
Over the course of the last few months, the panel held candidate interviews, many remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The final public meeting narrowed the pool of applicants to 20 Democrats, 20 Republicans, and 20 from neither of those parties.
“The panel has now concluded its critical step of the process to form California’s second citizen-led redistricting Commission,” said Christopher Dawson, panel Counsel. “During the meetings, the panel members remarked how impressed they were by the caliber, passion, and commitment of the candidates, and identified 60 of the most qualified applicants who have demonstrated strong analytical skills, an ability to be impartial and an appreciation for California’s diversity. We are confident that these remaining 60 can draw fair and legal districts for the good of our state and its future.”
The final pool of 60 is a diverse group coming from all regions of the state and with different backgrounds. Each offers different skills, experiences, and perspectives that will benefit the new 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission. For the complete list of the 60 remaining applicants, please visit ShapeCaliforniasFuture.auditor.ca.gov.
The legislative leaders have until June 30, 2020, to exercise their strikes (eight total strikes allowed for each sub-pool) and submit a list of remaining applicants to the California State Auditor. From the remaining list of applicants, the California State Auditor will then randomly select the first eight commissioners. Those eight commissioners will select the remaining six that will, in total, make up the 14-member Commission. The Commission will include, in total, five Democrats, five Republicans, and four members from neither of those parties.
The 14-member Commission will redraw the lines for California’s Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts, based on information gathered during the 2020 census. The Commission must draw the districts in conformity with strict, nonpartisan rules designed to create districts of relatively equal population that will provide fair representation for all Californians.
For more information and to view the video and transcripts of all meetings—including the final meeting—please visit ShapeCaliforniasFuture.auditor.ca.gov/arp.html#previous_meetings.
About the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission
Every ten years, after the federal government publishes updated census information, California must redraw the boundaries of its Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts. In 2008, California voters passed the Voters FIRST Act authorizing the creation of an independent Commission comprised of 14 members. The 2020 Commission will include five Democrats, five Republicans, and four who are either registered without, or “independent” of, any political party (decline-to-state or no party preference) or with another party. The Commission is responsible for drawing the lines of each district.
The Applicant Review Panel was responsible for reviewing the application materials submitted by individuals who applied to serve on the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission and identifying the most qualified applicants. The panel was randomly selected and established as required by law for the sole purpose of identifying 60 of the most qualified applicants. The panel’s members consisted of three independent auditors – one who is registered with the Democratic Party, one who is registered with the Republican Party, and one who is registered with another party or without a party preference. After selecting the 60 names, the panel was disbanded. For more information on the Applicant Review Panel, please visit shapecaliforniasfuture.auditor.ca.gov/arp.html.
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