FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2021
CONTACT: Jennifer Levesque
(209) 385-6231
City Council seeks applications for the Redistricting Advisory Committee and announces launch of a Redistricting webpage
The City Council is seeking applications from City of Merced residents for the newly established Redistricting Advisory Committee. At the June 21, 2021 City Council meeting, the City Council directed staff to form a Redistricting Advisory Committee to assist in the process of redistricting. The City Council will be making appointments to the Redistricting Advisory Committee at the August 2, 2021 City Council meeting.
Every 10 years, public agencies must redistrict to determine how current boundaries of their voting districts might be redrawn based on recent Census data. This process will include substantial outreach to Merced City residents to ensure council districts meet strict requirements for population equality and voting rights protections as well as respect for neighborhoods and geographical elements.
The Redistricting Advisory Committee will review the current City Council election districts for balanced population and ensure they comply with state and federal election laws based on the 2020 Census data. The Committee is a nine (9) member Committee and must be City of Merced residents. To apply, please visit the City’s website; www.cityofmerced.org under Popular Links on the homepage, click on Apply for City Board. All Redistricting Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public and will encourage public participation.
The City has launched a redistricting webpage for residents to learn more about the City’s redistricting efforts, find out how to get involved, and access a number of educational resources at www.cityofmerced.org/redistricting.
On the redistricting webpage, residents can learn about opportunities to participate in the process through four public hearings plus an information session on map-drawing tools. Residents will also find a tentative schedule of hearings, Redistricting Advisory Committee meetings, and workshops as dates are determined, so please check frequently for updates on the webpage.
Also on the webpage, residents will be able to learn about the redistricting process, watch videos from past meetings, view presentation slides and any other documents relating to the redistricting process, and see frequently asked questions. Residents may also sign up to receive ongoing updates regarding the City of Merced’s efforts.
Soon, residents will also be able to use online map-drawing tools to submit their own suggestions for redivided City districts and offer feedback on previously-drawn maps.
For more information on City of Merced’s redistricting process or to sign up for updates and information, visit www.cityofmerced.org/redistricting or call the City Clerk’s Office at (209) 388-8650.