Redistricting ensures every person has fair representation by drawing districts with an equal number of people. How the districts are drawn determines how effectively a community is represented in the halls of government.
Watch this short video to learn more about redistricting and how you can get involved!
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Redistricting is the process where the district lines for Congress, state legislatures, county board of supervisors, city councils, school boards and other elected officials are redrawn every 10 years based on Census data.
Redistricting ensures every person has fair representation by drawing districts with an equal number of people. How the districts are drawn determines how effectively a community is represented in the halls of government.
Redistricting determines which neighborhoods and communities are grouped together into a district for purposes of electing a board member. The Board of Supervisors will seek input in selecting the next district map for our supervisorial districts. You have an opportunity to share with the Board of Supervisors how you think district boundaries should be drawn to best represent your community.
You can find an interactive map of the County’s current supervisorial districts here
In accordance with federal and state law, the Commission and Board must draw district lines pursuant to the following criteria, which are listed in order of priority:
Federal Law
California Law
In addition to these, the Commission and Board may also consider other traditional redistricting criteria. However, districts shall not be drawn for purposes of favoring or discriminating against an incumbent, political candidate, or political party.
Sonoma County is reaching out to local media to publicize the redistricting process. Also, we are making a good faith effort to notify community groups of various kinds about the redistricting process. Persons who require accommodation for any audio, visual or other disability or language interpretation in order to review redistricting materials or to participate in a public hearing per the American Disabilities Act (ADA), may obtain assistance by requesting such accommodation in writing to redistricting2021@sonoma-county.org.
Sonoma County is notifying the public about redistricting hearings, posting maps online before adoption, and creating a dedicated web page for all relevant information about the redistricting process. Please continue checking this website for more information and resources.
These are standard categories included in the Census. Not all of the categories are relevant for creating district maps. Acronyms include:
No. You can draw boundaries for just the district where your neighborhood is, or participate in map drawing for any part of the County
Yes, you may submit more than one map. Please draw as many maps as you like. We suggest you submit only your top 2-3 preferred maps to assist the Commission and Board in focusing on the map that best represents your community; however, there is no limit.
After you submit your map, the demographic consultants will generate the population and other demographic details for your proposed map. Maps can be viewed on the Draft Maps page.
Once submitted, maps are considered public records.
There are a number of online publications and guides to districting. You can start with this one from MALDEF and the NAACP, or this (long) one from the Brennan Center, this one from the League of Women Voters, or these FAQs from the California Independent Redistricting Commission.
While the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will make the ultimate decision, the Advisory Redistricting Commission (ARC) was formed to advise and assist the Board with redrawing supervisorial district boundaries.