You very likely have a ballot; maybe it’s sitting on your desk, or languishing with a pile of mail on the table. It’s actually very important, and you should fill it out and mail it. Today is good.
Prop 50 is the single biggest chess move against Republicans cheating their way to the midterm elections, and California has the board.
As a voter in California, you have likely been deluged with disinformation about what Prop 50 is or how it works. In many previous editorials, we have leaned into the fact that whoever you hear the most advertising from likely has 1) too much money and 2) not your interests in mind.
It’s a pretty simple thing.
First, some background; in the past, state legislators drew their own districts. Gerrymandering helped both the politicians and their respective parties win elections. Sacramento’s lawmakers also gerrymandered congressional districts. Again, as something perfectly legal, anyone who wanted to, did.
It was just that – legal as it was – it was hard to justify; it was obviously unethical. The last gasp was 2001 when legislators of both parties opted to draw districts that protected every incumbent, Democrat or Republican. People in power do like to stay in power. California voters killed the gerrymander in 2008. They assigned legislative redistricting to an independent bipartisan citizens’ commission.
In 2010, voters also gave the panel the power to draw House seats.
It works; politicians no longer choose their own voters, and districts have become much more competitive. With every U.S. Census, new district maps been drawn.
This is how part of Culver City now has Ted Lieu as a congressional rep, rather than all of Culver City being in one district under Sydney Kamlager-Dove. We were redistricted after the last census.
Traditionally, historically, ethically – ten years is the time to opt for changes. Prop 50 also has a ‘sunset clause,’ ending the new redistricting in 2031, after the next federal census.
The Democrats are fighting against some states just whimsically redistricting anytime they feel like it (or anytime the president asks them to -) which is the ruckus in Texas. With Prop 50, if it’s sauce for the goose, it’s sauce for the gander.
It started with Texas, but it’s now become a list of Republican dominated states that are looking to re-do their maps to add seats. Hard to play a real game when the number of pieces on the board keep changing. Because, traditionally, we call that cheating.
So, vote yes on 50. It’s important. Not because Culver City should be in one district – let’s wait and see what 2031 looks like – but because you want to live in a functioning democracy.
With liberty and justice for all.
Judith Martin-Straw
