CSDA has been in support of Senate Bill 594 (Glazer), a measure that would call for all special districts to adopt their post census re-districting maps prior to 180 days before a general election in 2022.
This measure has stalled. SB 594 now resides in the Assembly Rules Committee, where it remains alive, but not moving. Those districts with a November 1, 2021 map adoption deadline should consider that this date may or may not be changed in a timeline that would alter your preparations.
Those districts with a 180-day-prior-to-a-general-election deadline (or any other deadline other than November 1, 2021) to adopt new maps should be aware that there are calls to move the deadline up to 205 days prior to the general election under some scenarios.
This measure was put in motion to resolve issues related to redistricting by local agencies. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Census Bureau was delayed in completing its constitutional mandate to provide census data. This will cause the release of the official census data to be delayed by as much as six months to the states and local governments. Prevailing wisdom is that the “legacy data” will be available in late August and the state’s final data will become available in late September.
This has put pressure on all local agencies, elections officials and the state to determine how to adjust for such a delay, still meet relevant deadlines, and provide for public input on new maps. The State’s redistricting commission has yet to finalize what date its maps are expected for the June elections which may inform the Legislature how local agencies should also be treated as the elections officials cannot map out precincts until all maps are in. However, there are still numerous concerns among stakeholders and there is not yet consensus on how to resolve them. This has contributed to the measure being paused.
Recent legislation has adjusted the dates for counties and general law cities to adopt their re-districting maps generally 205 days prior to a general election and 174 days prior for a June election.
Among some of the issues that may arise should this measure (or another measure used as a vehicle to address any late census-related issue) not succeed in addressing special district concerns: elections officials have suggested that all special districts move to 205 days prior to the general election for map adoption or perhaps some other date, in line with cities and counties or other local agencies.
Additionally, some districts and district types currently have a November 1, 2021 map adoption deadline.
In response, CSDA had requested that SB 594, an urgency measure, be amended to set all districts to 180 days prior to the general election for the adoption of new maps, similar to existing provisions for many districts, and to move back those districts who had a November 1 , 2021 map adoption deadline.
It is important that districts be engaged early in the redistricting process. CSDA is inviting any district who has unique circumstances, is governed by a special act, or is otherwise available to participate in any redistricting-related legislation discussions and/or Working Group on the topic by contacting Legislative Representative Anthony Tannehill at anthonyt@csda.net.
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