California is one of many states in which the boundaries for legislative districts are drawn by the Legislators themselves. This creates a system in which the Legislators manipulate the boundaries based on their own political agendas and not the best interests of Californians. Legislators use their control to weaken the voting power of minorities and members of other political parties, resulting in cities and neighborhoods split between districts and represented by different legislators. As a result it becomes harder and harder to hold our representatives accountable.

Instead of the current partisan process, Common Cause supports SCA 3, which creates a balanced and diverse independent redistricting commission to draw lines once a decade, according to clear criteria and public input.

Redistricting is a major building block for our democracy. It is up to us to demand this process be taken out of the smoky back rooms of a few power-brokers and bring it into the light of public scrutiny. We want voters to be able to choose their representatives, not have those now in office choose which voters they want to put in their districts.