It’s time to let voters redraw Merced County lines, not politicians | Opinion

This year, I chose to author Assembly Bill 1441, which would direct the County of Merced to establish an independent citizens redistricting commission to ensure county districts are fairly drawn in order to reflect the appropriate demographics and communities of interests.

There is no reason for elected politicians to have control over redistricting. It is clearly a conflict of interest. When you remove the average voter from the decision-making process, what we’re left with is a system of government that is even more out of touch and disconnected from voters than the ones we have now. It’s safe to say that we don’t want that to happen.

Over the last several decades, Californians have been moving redistricting away from elected officials and placing that responsibility in the hands of independent citizens’ commission to ensure a more equitable process. Regardless of what is currently dominating the headlines regarding redrawing congressional lines between two big “blue” and “red” states, voters want a say in redrawing political lines at the local level.

In 2008, California passed Proposition 11, which created a Citizen’s Redistricting Commission to redraw district lines for the state legislature in both the Assembly and the Senate.

Voters want to be fairly counted and represented. Some elected Merced County Supervisors, however, are trying to exert complete control over drawing their district lines. The board has opposed AB 1441, saying it “seeks to usurp control from local government, while imposing a new level of bureaucracy at a significant cost to taxpayers.” Nevermind that the state is obligated to reimburse the county of Merced, and I am committed to ensuring the state meets its obligations.

One of the most prominent local voices in support of AB 1441 is the League of Women Voters of Merced County.

“(AB 1441) would be a major step forward to ensure residents of Merced County that their districts are created in a fair, equitable and impartial process,” said League of Women Voters for Merced County President Susan Walsh. “Both urban and rural counties like Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno and San Luis Obispo have already formed redistricting commissions or are scheduled to form commissions for the first time at the next census in 2030. We agree it is Merced’s turn to join these counties.”

The Citizen’s Redistricting Commission was designed to ensure fair elections and increase representation from historically excluded groups.

Under the provisions of Proposition 11, a 14-member commission is selected every 10 years following a thorough screening process to guarantee political neutrality, and is composed of five Democrats, five Republicans and four members with no party preference.

The commission is subject to strict guidelines, such as complying with the Voting Rights Act, to make sure districts are geographically contiguous, recognize communities of interest and, when possible, maintain geographic compactness.

“As a 40-year resident of Merced County, I support AB 1441 because our current process lacks transparency and public trust,” said longtime Merced resident Rebecca Tucker. “Too many decisions ... have been made without meaningful input, and residents who raise concerns are often dismissed or talked down to. An independent redistricting commission would give everyday citizens a fair and impartial voice in shaping our representation, something long overdue in Merced County.”

Following the success of this process at the state level, efforts were taken to implement these reforms at a local level, and my district in the Central Valley should not be an exception to that. We are doing this the right way. These commissions have rules and policies in place to ensure fairness and equitable governance.

Here are the facts: I have heard from people in my district. This is something they want. This is something that will incorporate them, include them and eventually, empower them to make decisions for the people, by the people.

We are seeing this happen more and more up and down California. It is high time a rural community like Merced follow suit and take ownership of redrawing district borders. AB 1441 gives the voters this power, taking it away from the elected politicians who already sit in within those borders.

The worse thing AB 1441 would do is promote transparency, accountability and public trust in Merced County’s government.

Esmeralda Soria, a Democrat, represents the 27th Assembly District.