1. Why does redistricting matter for the Latino community?
2. How do I participate in California's new redistricting process?
3. Why focus my testimony on a community of interest?
4. Where do I get help preparing public testimony on my community of interest?
5. What is California's new redistricting process?
6. When will the Commission release its maps?
7. Why does California have a new commission and process?

1. Why does redistricting matter for the Latino community? Redistricting will determine California’s political boundaries for the next 10 years.  California’s citizens Redistricting Commission will draw district lines for the first time in California history for the state Congressional, Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization.  Latinos are the second largest population group in California. If are not part of the dialogue an important part of California will be missing. 2. How do I participate in California's new redistricting process?

SUBMIT PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON YOUR COMMUNITY OF INTEREST!!

3.Why focus my testimony on a community of interest?

A community of interest is simply a community with common interests and goals that shares social and economic characteristics.
The Commission has to follow ranked criteria for drawing district lines, as established by Proposition 11.
Visit http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/faq.html learn more about these ranked criteria.
While the Commission can rely on experts to get information about most of the criteria, communities of interest can only be defined by local community members. The Commissioners want your input!

The California Constitution defines a community of interest as:
A community of interest is a contiguous population which shares common social and economic interests that should be included within a single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation. Examples of such shared interests are those common to an urban area, a rural area, an industrial area, or an agricultural area, and those common to areas in which the people share similar living standards, use the same transportation facilities, have similar work opportunities, or have access to the same media of communication relevant to the election process. Communities of Interest shall not include relationships with political parties, incumbents, or political candidates.
--‐Section 2(d)(4) of Article XXI of the California Constitution

4. Where do I get help preparing public testimony on my community of interest?

The NALEO Educational Fund is providing support to Latino Community members through technical assistance and education.
Visit our Upcoming Events section to access the following resources
Watch the "How to Participate in California's redistricting process" video
Sign up for a live webinar to get live assistance
Call us at (213)747-7606 ext 4434 or via email at agarcia@naleo.org or jgallegos@naleo.org

5. What is California's new redistricting process?

The California Citizens Redistricting Commission will take public input to inform how district lines are drawn. The Commission needs to hear from our Latino communities to understand how district lines should be drawn where we live.

The Commission is charged with releasing First Draft and Second Draft maps on June 10, 2011 and July 7, 2011, before releasing their Final Draft maps on July 28, 2011. Between each stage the Commission will hold public hearings.

The NALEO Educational Fund is providing assistance education opportunities for the Latino community to learn more about the Commission and California's redistricting process. Sign up for a webinar on our events page http://www.latinosdrawthelines.org/upcomingEvents.html

To learn more about the Commission's public hearing schedule visit http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/hearings.html

6. When will the Commission release its maps?

The Commission is charged with releasing new maps for Congress, State Senate, State Assembly and Board of Equalization districts.
First Draft maps will be released June 10, 2011
Second Draft maps will be released July 7, 2011
Final Draft maps will be released on July 28, 2011.
Vote on Final Draft maps will occur August 15, 2011.

Final maps will only be adopted if the Commission successfully achieves a total of 9 votes – 3 Democrats, 3 Republicans, 3 Decline to State votes are needed

The Latino community must participate and provide comment at each stage of the process.

7.Why does California have a new process?

A successful ballot measure in 2008 transferred authority for drawing state political boundaries from the state legislature to a new Citizens Redistricting Commission. Now the responsibility for drawing new district maps for the State Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization will go to 14 voters chosen to serve on that Commission.

With a state as big and diverse as California, who draws the lines— and how those lines are drawn — will truly shape the future of this state.

In 2010 the NALEO Educational Fund worked to educate Latino voters and encourage applicants for this vital process. Today there are three Latinos and one person that identifies as half Latino serving on California's first ever Citizens Redistricting Commission.

Members of this new Commission will make important decisions that will affect the political representation of every community in California for the next decade. It is crucial that Latinos embrace this historic opportunity to ensure our community has a strong voice in choosing the state's future leadership.

To learn more about the Commission's selection process and learn more about the Commissioners visit
http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/commission.html

14 members of the Citizens Redistricting Commission. Seated, left to right: Connie Galambos Malloy and Michael Ward. Standing, left to right: Jodie Filkins-Webber, Gabino Aguirre, Vincent Barabba, Michelle DiGuilo, Maria Blanco, Peter Yao, Cynthia Dai, Lilbert "Gil" Ontai, Jeanne Raya, Angelo Ancheta, Stanley Forbes and M. Andre Parvenu. SOURCE: www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov