by: Kat Littfin
Editorial Editor
On Nov. 4, California will have a special election with a controversial issue on the state ballot – Proposition 50. Proposition 50 entails a mid-term temporary redistricting plan that is projected to shift five Republican-leaning districts into Democratic-leaning ones. Even among Democratic voters, this issue is divisive as it questions the integrity of gerrymandering and political retaliation.
Gerrymandering is the manipulation of voting districts to overrepresent one political party. The majority party of a district is important because it often determines the district’s vote in elections and establishes the party of the district’s representative. Each voting district elects one individual to serve its population in the House of Representatives. Currently, the House has 435 seats with 219 being Republicans and 216 being Democrats. Gerrymandering on the basis of a political party is not federally illegal, and some states routinely gerrymander during regular redistricting every ten years. Texas recently redrew district boundaries, adding a projected number of five new Republican seats to the House. Unlike Texas, California has an anti-gerrymandering clause written in the state constitution. However, to neutralize Texas’s act, California plans to shift five Republican districts to create five new Democratic seats if Prop 50 passes.
Historically, California determines its districts through a non-partisan committee that disregards the party registration of citizens when redrawing districts. Proposition 50 would ignore this precedent until the next routine redistricting in 2030. If passed, any changes to voting maps would be temporary, and redistricting decisions would return to the non-partisan committee.
Critics of Prop 50 argue that the policy inhibits democratic processes, as it would intentionally go against California’s state law that prohibits partisan gerrymandering. Supporters argue that the measure is a necessary step to counteract Texas’s redistricting, as otherwise the House of Representatives will have a disproportionate majority of Republican seats. California’s Governor Gavin Newsom is a staunch supporter of the proposition, as he signed legislation that allowed it to be a voting measure on the ballot. According to CNN, Newsom sees the issue as the obvious response, as he stated: “We have no choice. It is the only chance to counteract even part of what Republicans are doing to redraw maps.” Meanwhile, organizations like Reform California and Protect Voters First as well as former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger have campaigned and raised money opposing the proposition.
This November, California citizens have the opportunity to voice their stance. Currently, ballot drop-off locations are open and mail-in ballots are welcome until Nov. 4. To obtain more information about this proposition and to register to vote, visit the California State Government website.
(Sources: ABC, California Secretary of State, CNN)