PANA is leading engagement in state and local redistricting to ensure Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, South Asian, and Black refugee and immigrant communities are seen, heard, and empowered as district boundaries are redrawn. This is our chance to ensure fair political representation for the next ten years. Building on the work of the Refugee and Immigrant Census Hub, we believe we can work together to draw and advocate for maps that represent the needs of refugee and immigrant communities across the region.

What is redistricting?

Every ten years following the Census, state and local electoral districts have to be redrawn to make sure each district has equal population. Redistricting ensures every person has equal representation by drawing districts with the same number of people.

How district lines are drawn determines who represents you. Elected representatives make decisions that are important to our lives, from ensuring safe schools to adopting immigration policies. When voters with similar interests are drawn into a district together, their combined voices give them a greater opportunity to express their views, to be heard, to elect candidates of their choice, and to hold their leaders accountable.

Who draws the lines?

In lots of states, the politicians draw the lines. But in California, an independent commission draws the lines for Congressional, State Senate, and State Assembly districts. Locally, San Diego County, and the cities of San Diego, Escondido, and Chula Vista also have independent commissions that are responsible for redistricting. In other cities, like El Cajon, the city council draws the district boundaries.

Why is redistricting important?

Redistricting determines political power for the next 10 years. The way district lines are drawn affects whether racial and ethnic minorities have the ability to influence the outcome of elections and decide who represents them. Keeping communities of interest together is one of the mandatory criteria for redistricting in California. It can be especially helpful to communities that have been traditionally shut out of the political process.