With
the Citizens Redistricting Commission
preparing to publish its draft maps tomorrow, the League of Women Voters of
California praised the work of the commissioners and the public. “Californians
have engaged enthusiastically in the process of redrawing the lines,” said LWVC
President Janis R. Hirohama. “Unlike redistricting in the past, this process
has been open and transparent—a true citizen-driven process.”

In early April, the commission set out from Sacramento to meet the people who brought
them into being. After several months of hard work to get the commission set up
and working, it was time for the commissioners to talk to Californians about
what kind of legislative districts they wanted to see. “Nobody knew just what
would happen,” noted Hirohama. “We didn’t know if many voters would attend the
hearings or if people would really care”

Two months and 21 public hearings later, those questions
have been definitively answered. More than 1,500 people turned out to speak to
the commission, and thousands of others submitted written comments.

Years of work by the League and others led to the adoption
of Proposition 11 in November 2008, establishing a new redistricting process
for California.
District lines are no longer drawn by legislators behind closed doors. Instead,
a diverse, independent commission is following fair, prioritized criteria in a
process unequalled for its transparency and public accessibility.

Tomorrow the first results of that process will be
announced, and public engagement will continue as everyone is able to access
the first drafts on the commission’s
Web site. The League encourages Californians to examine the draft maps, find their
communities on them and comment  if
they wish. Then, “Keep watching as the commission takes more input and revises
the maps,” urged Hirohama. “This is a historic moment. We need to insure that
the public is heard.”

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The League of Women Voters of California is a nonpartisan political
organization for women and men that encourages informed and active
participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public
policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

For Immediate Release                                         

Contact:
Trudy Schafer, 916-442-7215;
916-705-1090 (c)

Subject

League of Women Voters of California Praises Redistricting Commission and Process