While times change, one thing that citizens can count on is that the district boundaries for their elected officials will change every ten years following each Census. That tradition continues this year as residents may see changes in their representation at the federal, state, and/or local level. Citizen input is critical to make sure we don’t end up with boundaries that look like this.
Here in El Dorado County, the Chief Administrative Office, Surveyor, Elections Department, and County Counsel will work together to draw possible Board of Supervisor District maps for public to review once Census data arrives this fall. Members of the public will also be able to draw and submit their own draft maps before the Board of Supervisors makes the final decision. In the meantime, public input is needed to define “communities of interest” (ie. areas on the map that should not be split if possible).
At a June 4 workshop, county staff presented an overview of a webpage residents can use to submit information on communities of interest. Residents can even use an online mapping tool to draw boundaries around communities they would like to see grouped together.
Legislative, Congressional, and Board of Equalization boundary adjustments will be handled by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, a panel of citizens not involved in partisan politics tased to develop fair district maps. Like the county, the commission is currently holding a series of workshops to collect information on communities that should be kept together. An online tool is also available.
