What is Redistricting?

Every ten years, Downey City Council districts must be redrawn so that each district is substantially equal in population. This process, called redistricting, is important in ensuring that each City Council member represents about the same number of constituents.

The City of Downey, has hired demographers National Demographic Corporation (NDC) for drawing these City Council districts. Redistricting is done using U.S. Census data. The 2020 Census was supposed to be released around March 31, 2021, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

For the City of Downey, the redistricting process must be completed by April 17, 2022.

Why is Redistricting Important?

Redistricting determines which neighborhoods and communities are grouped together into a City Council district for purposes of electing a City Council member.

What do the existing council districts look like?

You can find a map of the City’s current council districts here. (Prior to 4/12/2022 amended city council district map adoption)

What Criteria will be Used When Drawing District Lines?

District lines will be adopted using the following criteria in order of priority:

1. Each district shall be reasonably equal in total resident population to the other districts, except where deviation is required to comply with the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 or allowable by law.
2. Districts shall comply with the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.
3. Districts shall be geographically contiguous.
4. The geographic integrity of city, local neighborhood, or community of interest shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division.
5. To the extent practicable, and where it does not conflict with numbers 1-4 above, districts shall be drawn to encourage geographic compactness.

Besides the above criteria, districts shall not be drawn for purposes of favoring or discriminating against an incumbent, political candidate, or political party.

What is a Community of Interest (COI)?

Your input is needed to redraw voting districts for Council Members, and one way you can participate is by assisting the City in developing a list of “communities of interest” (COI) that can be utilized in the process to redraw district lines. 

A Community of Interest is a group of people that: share common social or economic interests, live in a geographically definable area, and should be included within a single district for purposes of effective and fair representation in future elections.

There are some communities of interest that are considered “protected classes” in that they have rights through state or federal civil rights or voting rights laws. Some examples of protected classes in districting would be ethnic and racial minorities such as a concentration of Latinx, Asian, or African American people.

There are other potential COI that can also be considered in redistricting, such as: senior citizens, college students, people who live in a particular neighborhood, or even people who share concerns such as parents with young children, bicycle enthusiasts, topic interest groups, etc.

COI does not include relationships with political parties, incumbents, or political candidates.

What You Can Do to Participate in the Process?

1. Provide your comments on your community of interest by completing the online COI worksheet below.

COI Worksheet. Complete On-line or print and submit to Downey City Hall - City Manager's Office, 3rd Floor, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA 90241. COI Worksheet is Now closed. 

2. Attend one of the City’s Public Hearings listed below. 

How Can the Public Participate in  the Redistricting?

• Submit written testimony about the process or a specific map to

  redistricting@downeyca.org or to Downey City Hall - City Manager's Office, 3rd Floor, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA 90241. (As the redistricting process has completed this email address is now closed. )

• • Here is a current a City map with current district boundaries the city and current district lines. Residents can utilize this map to draw any changes they would like to see.
    
    
• The City will list upcoming public hearings at which you can speak about the process or a specific map. A Spanish interpreter will be available at each hearing.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if special assistance is needed to participate in the below public hearings, complete the City’s Title II ADA Reasonable Accommodation Form located on the City’s website and at City Hall - City Clerk’s Department, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., and submit to the City Clerk’s Department or contact (562) 904-7280 or TTY 7-1-1, 48 business hours prior to the public hearing.

Draft Maps

Draft Map with demographics information can be located here. The proposed election sequence for each map (listing which districts are proposed for 2022 elections and which are for 2024) is printed on each map.

Questions

If you have any questions, regarding this process please email redistricting@downeyca.org or contact (562) 904-7284.