Redistricting initiative may not qualify for fall ballot


The Governor's questionably motivated and counterdemocratic redistricting proposal is having some trouble collecting enough signatures to qualify in time for the special election this fall.

Granted, the special election may or may not happen in any case.

How much more uncertainty could there be in the California political landscape right now?

Clock's ticking on initiative to revise redistricting rules
(San Diego Union-Tribune) A key element of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's agenda – taking the redrawing of political boundaries away from the Legislature – might be the latest ballot measure to run into problems.

Ted Costa, the initiative's author, said yesterday that while he has no doubt it will make the June 2006 ballot, it might not have enough petition signatures in time to qualify for a special election this fall if the governor calls one.

Meanwhile, while Schwarzenegger and Democratic legislative leaders say they are willing to negotiate a compromise, neither side appears willing to budge on the key sticking point of timing.

The governor and Costa want new congressional and legislative districts in time for the 2006 or 2008 elections; the Democrats insist on waiting until after the 2010 census.


Clearly if the initiative has to wait until next June to appear on a ballot, it won't affect district borders until the 2008 elections at the earliest. While I think that the measure has major problems on its face, the delayed effect would present an even bigger problem in terms of salability: Why spend the time wrangling over how to calculate the new borders with 8-year-old census data when a new census will be performed in just two short years?

Posted: Tue - April 19, 2005 at 12:19 PM   | Category:     |   |   | |


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