COUNCIL REDISTRICTING

Haga clic aquí para obtener información en español Distritos Electorales.

At the November 2020 election, Districts 1 and 3 were elected. In the City's next General Municipal Election, which will be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Districts 2 and 4 will be up for election. Elections page.

Voting Districts: What voting districts do you live in? Check your elective districts here.

Council adopted Ordinance 488 on July 10, 2018 implementing district-based elections for seats on the City Council resulting in 4 Council Districts and an Elective Office of Mayor. The Ordinance adopted District Map 410e used for the November 2020 General Election. Here are maps of the district boundaries. Be sure to enter your address in the above Voting Districts webpage to confirm your elective districts for your residence. 

These maps may be modified once the re-districting process is complete, by end of April 2022. 

Re-Districting Calendar of Events (posted as they are scheduled):

Public Mapping Kits You can get involved by drafting your own draft map and submit to the City Clerk's Office. 

Interactive Review Map

Initial Draft Maps

Maps Submitted by the Public

What is redistricting?

Redistricting is the regular process of adjusting the lines of voting districts in accordance with population shifts. In California, public agencies and other organizations must redivide (or redraw) the lines of their districts every ten years once the results of the Census are released so that each district is substantially equal in population. All district lines must be reviewed to meet strict requirements for population equality, voting rights protections, and in accordance with the California FAIR MAPS Act. 

Why does redistricting matter to me?

Redistricting determines which neighborhoods and communities are grouped together into a district for purposes of electing Council Members. The City Council will seek public input in selecting the next district map for electing Council Members.

You have an opportunity to share with the City Council how you think district boundaries should be drawn to best represent your community.

What do the existing City Council districts look like?

To review the current City Council and related districts click here: Current Map

What criteria will our City Council use when drawing district lines?

1. Federal Laws

Equal Population (based on total population of residents as determined by the most recent federal decennial census) Federal Voting Rights Act No Racial Gerrymandering (Gerrymandering)

2. California Criteria for Cities

Geographically contiguous (areas that meet only at the points of adjoining corners are not contiguous.  Areas that are separated by water and not connected by a bridge, tunnel, or ferry service are not contiguous.  Undivided neighborhoods and “communities of interest” (Socio-economic geographic areas that should be kept together for purposes of its effective and fair representation) Easily identifiable boundaries  Compact (Do not bypass one group of people to get to a more distant group of people) 

* Prohibited: “Shall not favor or discriminate against a political party.” 

3. Other Traditional Redistricting Principles

Minimize voters shifted to different election years Respect voters’ choices / continuity in office Future population growth Preserving the core of existing districts 

What are Communities of Interest?

A community of interest is a “contiguous population that shares common social and economic interests that should be included within a single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation.”

Below are useful excerpts from the Local Government Redistricting Toolkit by Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus (2020)

Communities of interest are the overlapping sets of neighborhoods, networks, and groups that share interests, views, cultures, histories, languages, and values and whose boundaries can be identified on a map.

The following elements help define communities of interest:

shared interests in schools, housing, community safety, transit, health conditions, land use, environmental conditions, and/or other issues; common social and civic networks, including churches, mosques, temples, homeowner associations, and community centers, and shared use of community spaces, like parks and shopping centers; racial and ethnic compositions, cultural identities, and households that predominantly speak a language other than English; similar socio-economic status, including but not limited to income, home-ownership, and education levels; shared political boundary lines from other jurisdictions, such as school districts, community college districts, and water districts.

How will our City Council notify the public about redistricting?

The City's website will post Public Hearings and Workshops as they are scheduled. Please sign-up for the City's e-blast so that you will get e-mails about upcoming meetings. The public hearings and workshops will be provided in applicable languages if residents submit a request in advance to clerkoffice@cosb.org.

How can I get involved?

Share your specific thoughts, draw a map, or attend an upcoming workshop to get involved!

Submit written testimony about the process or a specific map to clerkoffice@cosb.org See the calendar at the top of this page for workshops and public hearings at which you can speak about the process or a specific map. Click here for information on drawing and submitting maps. 

clerkoffice@cosb.org

See the Interactive Review Map 

Maps can be submitted at Workshops, Public Hearings, City Hall, or by e-mail to 

At the hearings and workshops, we want you to share input and provide feedback, define your neighborhood or community of interest, and share your opinions on the draft maps. 

Maps - draw and submit your own!

To draw your own map(s) to submit to the City, click on one of the links below to open a 1-page kit.

English Kit Spanish Kit

 

What do the acronyms and categories mean on the demographic sheets?

Common acronyms demographic categories:
NH: Non-Hispanic 
VAP: Voting age population
CVAP: Citizen Voting Age Population
CVRA: California Voting Rights Act
FAIR MAPS Act: Fair And Inclusive Redistricting for Municipalities and Political Subdivisions
NDC: National Demographics Corporation (the firm hired to produce the maps and provide demographic data)

Do I have to submit a completed map?

No, you do not need to submit a fully completed map.  You can draw boundaries for only your neighborhood or only a portion of the city. 

Can I submit more than one map?

Yes, you may submit more than one map. Please draw as many maps as you like.  We suggest you submit only your top 2-3 preferred maps.

What happens to the drafted maps?

After you submit your map, the demographic consultants will generate the population and other demographic details for your proposed map.
Maps can be viewed on the Draft Maps Page or on the Interactive Review Map.

Once submitted, maps are considered public records.

Contact

Please send any questions, comments, and map suggestions to clerkoffice@cosb.org; or contact the City by phone at (858) 720-2400.

Where can I learn more about redistricting?

Online publications and guides to redistricting maybe found at various organizations:

From MALDEF, the NAACP and the Asian Justice Center

From the Asian Americans Advancing Justice

From the Brennan Center

From the League of Women Voters

From the California Independent Redistricting Commission FAQs