League of Women Voters of California
Will Continue Fight for Redistricting Reform

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 9 -- Yesterday the voters clearly said that Proposition 77 is not the way to reform the redistricting process in California. Jacqueline Jacobberger, president of the League of Women Voters of California, said, "Although the need to change the current situation is well recognized, voters understood that Prop. 77 had too many flaws to be a viable option for reform."

       The League remains committed to pressing for a redistricting process that encourages public participation and scrutiny, has fair criteria for drawing the lines, and transfers responsibility for redistricting to an independent commission that reflects the interests and diversity of all California.

       "Of all the issues on the special election ballot, redistricting offers the greatest promise for finding a fair, effective proposal that we can all endorse," said Jacobberger. Since January, the League has worked with other public interest groups and policy makers to seek consensus on procedural reforms and substantive standards for districts.

       "We saw the Governor and legislative leaders take steps toward redistricting by an independent panel, and during the campaign the media solidly endorsed that concept," she continued. "We pledge our efforts to redesign the redistricting process without the flaws that plagued Prop. 77. And we challenge everyone concerned about our representative democracy to work with us to put a real reform measure before California voters in 2006."

       For more information, or to sign up for redistricting updates, visit the League's redistricting page at http://lwvc.org/lwvc/action/redistrict/.