Redistricing Rules and Goals

Federal Laws

• ​​​​​Substantially Equal Population
  
• No Gerrymandering
• Federal Voting Rights Act​

California Criteria for Counties

• Geographically Contiguous​
  
• Communities of interest, cities, & census designated places kept together as much as possible
• Use easily identifiable, existing natural or artificial boundaries (rivers, creeks, parks, streets, highways, rail tracks, etc.)
• Does not bypass one community or area to reach to get to another area​​

Other Traditional Redistricting Principles

• Respect voters' choices/ avoid head-to-head contests
• Future population growth
•  Minimizing shifts of voters from 2022 to 2024 elections​