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By Thea Skinner
October 10, 2012 (San Diego's East County)--Proposition 40 allows voters to approve or reject the new state senate districts created by the Citizens Redistricting Commission. If Prop 40 is approved with a yes vote, nothing changes. If rejected by a no vote, the senate districts are re-drawn again by officials under the supervision of the California Supreme Court. Both the California Democratic Party and California Republican Party now recommend a “yes” vote on Prop 40.
Opponents of Prop 40 have suspended their campaign and are no longer seeking a no vote due to a Supreme Court decision that keeps existing Senate districts in place during 2012.
Supporters of Prop 40 say it protects the senate districts created by the voter-approved Citizens Redistricting Commission and upholds the will of California voters to hold elected officials accountable. Supporters also say, a yes vote will continue to keep politicians out of the redistricting process.
Supporters of Prop 40 include the California Chamber of Commerce, The National Federation of Independent Business, California Common Cause, the AARP, and the NAACP California.
According to Julie Vandermost, chairwoman of Fairness and Accountability in Redistricting (FAIR), which had pushed the referendum. "As the Official Sponsor of Proposition 40, our intention was to make sure its qualification for the ballot would stop the current Senate District lines from being implemented in 2012. The Supreme Court reviewed the process and intervened to keep district lines in place. With the court’s action, this measure is not needed and we are no longer asking for a NO vote."
Voters still need to vote yes to ensure the State Senate maps drawn by the voter-approved independent Citizens Redistricting Commission remain in place.
For more information visit: Yes on Proposition 40: www.holdpoliticiansaccountable.org
No on Proposition 40: www.fairdistricts2012.com. Also visit: www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov. Voting occurs Nov. 6.
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