Redistricting: How Will Santa Cruz County Be Represented?

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Citizens concerned about how redistricting can impact election results take notice: On June 10, California State Auditor Elaine M. Howle announced that online applications were officially open for qualified Californians to apply for the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission. Applications are still being sought—the deadline to apply is August 9, 2019—and some Santa Cruz County residents might want to look carefully at the demographics of those who've already applied.

The 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission will only be made up of 14 members, but they have a big responsibility: They will redraw California's Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts that are supposed to reflect new population data that will come out after the federal government publishes updated census information.

As of June 13, more than 1,000 applications had been submitted for a seat on the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission. Of those applicants, 803 were tentatively eligible to serve, according to state officials. The initial application is open to every registered voter who has been affiliated with the same political party or with no political party since July 1, 2015 and has voted in at least two of the last three statewide general elections.

In Santa Cruz County, at press time 10 female applicants have been approved as tentatively eligible to serve compared to 11 males. When looking at the applicants' race, most are white (six women, eight men). Zero applicants identified as black/African American, and just two women and no men of Mexican/Mexican American or "other" Hispanic/Latino identity have been approved as tentatively eligible. The numbers are even lower for other groups.

Political affiliation is also disparate: Sixteen out of the 21 tentatively eligible applicants are democrats, while three stated no party preference. Just two republican applicants are tentatively eligible.

According to the state, a large and diverse applicant pool is sought. The California State Auditor is tracking applicant demographic data on a daily basis by gender, ethnicity, political party, region and county. Updated Citizens Redistricting Commission application data is available to the public at https://applications.shapecaliforniasfuture.auditor.ca.gov/.

Interested in applying? Applicants must submit an application online at shapecaliforniasfuture.auditor.ca.gov during the initial 60-day application period that ends August 9, 2019.