It is a conflict of interest for local elected officials, including city councilmembers and county supervisors, to draw their own election districts. The voters should be choosing their elected officials, not the other way around.

In 2008, Californians voted to transfer the power over state and federal redistricting to an impartial Citizens Redistricting Commission. The Commission has been widely praised for drawing lines that are fairer and more representative than the Legislature-controlled process. Today, more than a dozen local governments have established citizens commissions for themselves.

Under current law cities and counties may establish independent commissions, if they wish to. However, it should not be an option. Local redistricting should be used to empower neighborhoods and communities of interest; not to advance the electoral interests of incumbents. It’s time to end local gerrrymandering in California.

Every city and county needs to establish an independent commission to ensure fair redistricting at the local level.