Unlike Connecticut ,California does not have a legislative commission or an executive task force working on redistricting, but rather an independent commission of citizens: the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. The commission recently released the first draft of its maps and is currently taking public comments on them.
The commission is made up of five Democrats, five Republicans, and four people who belong to neither party. None of the members can have a prior or existing relationship with any state government official, been a candidate for state office, or been a state or federal lobbyist. California voters authorized creation of the commission in 2008.
The commission has to follow strict, nonpartisan guidelines in creating districts that are about equal in population.
Currently 11 other state uses similar commissions: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
