With an informal public workshop about the redistricting process now completed, the County of Marin is promoting its new online mapping tool and preparing to receive the final figures from the 2020 U.S. Census.
The boundaries between Marin County’s five supervisorial districts are under review to assure relatively equal population distribution and compliance with both the Voting Rights Act and state requirements. Redistricting determines which neighborhoods and communities are grouped together into a district for purposes of electing a supervisor. The process is required every 10 years upon release of new census figures to rebalance districts as necessary given changes in the population (see the current map on the Board’s homepage).
The County embarked on its process during the May 25 session of the Marin County Board of Supervisors. An August 21 introductory meeting included a rollout of the new online mapping tool to residents so they may propose their own supervisorial district maps and their own “communities of interest.” Marin residents are encouraged to submit maps of their own made with the interactive tool that reflects population changes when a map boundary is moved on a screen.
Video and accompanying documents from the August 21 meeting are now available on the public website, RedistrictMarin.org, for those who missed Saturday’s workshop. Residents are encouraged to provide feedback through the online mapping tool, the redistricting website, or by email.
The timeline for this year’s process is different than in 2011 and earlier. In past decades, official census data was typically released in March, giving local governments nine months to adjust district boundaries. This year the census data was delayed due to challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the County anticipates receiving final adjusted census data in October. A final map must still be adopted by December 15 to ensure the June 2022 primary election reflects the new boundaries.
For the rest of this year, the County’s outreach campaign will include four public hearings and communications about the process in multiple languages. The first public hearing will be October 12, shortly after the County receives the official census figures. The County will then begin proposing updated supervisorial maps for consideration.
Historically, Marin has been a slow-growth county with relatively small population changes after each official census. A preliminary review with experts indicates that current boundaries are likely to meet all requirements that protect minority voting rights. It is likely that some level of minor population rebalances between some districts will be necessary, which has been typical in previous efforts as the population changes between census count each decade.
Interested in the redistricting process and staying connected on this topic? Sign up to receive periodic e-mailed updates from County staff under the topic “Marin Supervisorial Redistricting 2021” or check the California Secretary of State’s webpage on redistricting.
