THE DISTRICTING PROCESS

Local governments use data from the U.S. Census Bureau to draw district lines to reflect the changing local population demographics. State law requires cities, counties, and special districts to engage communities in the districting process by holding public hearings and doing public outreach.

On March 28, 2022 the City Council approved Resolution No. 2022-C26, Declaring Its Intention to Transition from At-Large to District-Based Elections by the November, 2024 General Municipal Election Pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10010(e)(3)(A), and finding this Transition Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act Pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3), 15320, and 15378(b)(5). 

Resolution No. 2022-C26

The public is encouraged to provide input via email to districting@azusaca.gov. 

DISTRICTING MAPS

The public map submission period closed on _____________.

Below are the district proposals submitted to the City of Azusa in its 2024 districting effort. The files posted include individual proposal packets, additional documentation, and aggregated proposal information.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is districting?

It is the regular process of determining the lines of voting districts in accordance with population shifts. In California, public agencies and other organizations must divide the lines of their districts according to the results of the Decennial Census, so that each council district is substantially equal in population. This ensures that each elected official represents about the same number of constituents. All district lines must be reviewed to meet strict requirements for population equality and voting rights protections in accordance with the federal Voting Rights Act and the California Elections Code.

What’s The Difference Between At-Large and District-Based Elections?

Azusa has always had an at-large election system, where voters of the entire city elect all members of the City Council. District elections will divide the city into geographic sections. Voters within said section (district) will vote only for candidates residing within the same district. Voters will not vote for candidates outside of their own district.

Why is it important?

The California Voting Rights Act requires cities to elect their council members from districts if certain conditions are met. As a result, we are changing our election process. Currently we elect our 4 council members and mayor by voters citywide. In the future we will elect our council members by voters from distinct districts. Districting determines which neighborhoods and communities are grouped together into a district for purposes of electing City Council members. 

What criteria is used to determine district lines?

1.   Federal Laws

• Equal Population (based on total population of residents as determined by the most recent Federal decennial Census and adjusted by the State to reassign incarcerated persons to the last known place of residence)
• Federal Voting Rights Act
• No Racial Gerrymandering

2.   California Criteria for Cities (to the extent practicable and in the following order of priority)

• Geographically contiguous (areas that meet only at the points of adjoining corners are not contiguous. Areas that are separated by water and not connected by a bridge, tunnel, or ferry service are not contiguous.
• Undivided neighborhoods and “communities of interest” (Socio-economic geographic areas that should be kept together for purposes of its effective and fair representation)
• Easily identifiable boundaries
• Compact (Do not bypass one group of people to get to a more distant group of people)
• Prohibited: “Shall not favor or discriminate against a political party.”

3.   Other Traditional Redistricting Principles

• Minimize voters shifted to different election years
• Respect voters’ choices / continuity in office
• Future population growth

What are Communities of Interest?

A community of interest is a “contiguous population that shares common social and economic interests that should be included within a single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation.” They are the overlapping sets of neighborhoods, networks, and groups that share interests, views, cultures, histories, languages, and values and whose boundaries can be identified on a map. The following elements help define communities of interest:

• shared interests in schools, housing, community safety, transit, health conditions, land use, environmental conditions, and/or other issues;
• common social and civic networks, including churches, mosques, temples, homeowner associations, and community centers, and shared use of community spaces, like parks and shopping centers;
• racial and ethnic compositions, cultural identities, and households that predominantly speak a language other than English;
• similar socio-economic status, including but not limited to income, home-ownership, and education levels;
• shared political boundary lines from other jurisdictions, such as school districts, community college districts, and water districts

What Happens If There Are No Candidates In A Particular District?

The California Elections Code authorizes the City Council to solicit applications from interested parties that reside within the district. The applicants would be considered and finalists would be interviewed by the City Council. A nominee would be appointed to serve on the City Council to represent the district in question. If this situation were to occur specific details, deadlines, and the application process would be vetted and approved by the City Council.

Common acronyms in districting:

• ACS: American Community Survey
• CDP: Census Designated Place
• CVAP: Citizen Voting Age Population
• CVRA: California Voting Rights Act
• FAIR MAPS Act: Fair and Inclusive Redistricting for Municipalities and Political Subdivisions (applies to cities and counties)
• P.L. 94-171: Public Law 94-171
• ROV: Registrar of Voters
• SWDB: California Statewide Database
• BBK: Best Best & Krieger