PROP 11 – Vote YES
This Proposal:
Proposition 11, the REDISTRICTING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE would change the process that is undertaken once every ten years of setting (which sometimes means re-drawing) the geographic boundaries of the state’s 120 legislative districts and four Board of Equalization districts. At present, the task of setting these boundaries falls to the state legislature itself. If Proposition 11 passes, that task would instead be given to a new, 14-member commission.
Specifically:
• It would change the authority for establishing the district boundaries of the California State Assembly, California State Senate, and Board of Equalization from elected representatives to a 14-member commission.
• The commission must include five Democrats, five Republicans and four of neither party.
• Government auditors are to select 60 registered voters from an applicant pool. Legislative leaders (Republican and Democrat leaders in the state senate and state assembly) can reduce the pool; the auditors then pick eight commission members by lottery, and those commissioners pick six additional members for 14 total.
• For approval, district boundaries need votes from three Democratic commissioners, three Republican commissioners and three commissioners from neither party
• The measure forbids the commission from drawing districts for the purpose of favoring or discriminating against political incumbents, candidates, or parties.
Recommendation:
My recommendation is to vote YES. While this doesn’t seem like the perfect redistricting plan, anything has to be better than the current system in which incumbent legislators divide up neighborhoods and communities to create districts where they are virtually guaranteed reelection. In addition, the fact that the vast majority of incumbent politicians are opposed to this plan tells me that voting yes is the right thing to do.
For more information: Voter Information Guide – Prop 11
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by David Boaz or 
by David Bergland, both excellent books on libertarian thought.
