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WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
Prepared by:Lake Research Partners
1000 BROADWAY
SUITE 294
OAKLAND, CA 94607
PHONE: 510-286-2097
FAX: 510-286-2022
1726 M St., NW
SUITE 500
WASHINGTON, DC 20036
PHONE: 202-776-9066
FAX: 202-776-9074
Survey Findings on Redistricting Reformin California
This redistricting poll is supported in part by
The James Irvine Foundation
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 2WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
Summary Description of Methods
Interview dates: April 18-23, 2006
800 interviews from a random sample of voters in California, margin of error +/- 3.5%
Party Registration Breakdown: 45% Democrat, 39% Republican, 16% Decline to state/Other.
Racial Breakdown: 66% White, 16% Latino, 7% African-American, 5% Asian, 5% other.
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 3WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
By a 3-to-1 margin, California voters prefer redistricting be done by an independent commission.
Would you rather have redistricting conducted by the State Legislature, or an independent commission?
21%
66%
13%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
State Leg. Ind. Comm. (Don't Know)
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 4WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
While Republican and Independent voters are most supportive, a majority of Democrats also prefer an independent commission.
21%
66%
28%
55%
15%
68%
14%
77%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Total Dem. Ind. Rep.
Would you rather have redistricting conducted by the State Legislature, or an independent commission?
State Leg.
Ind. Comm.
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 5WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
Majorities of white, Latino, and African American voters prefer an independent commission.
21%
66%
17%
71%
25%
50%
30%
56%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Total White Black Latinos
Would you rather have redistricting conducted by the State Legislature, or an independent commission?
State Leg.
Ind. Comm.
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 6WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
There is a solid preference for an independent commission across the state. The strongest preference is seen in Fresno and Sacramento.
21%
66%
27%
62%
15%
69%
21%
68%
18%
69%
23%
63%
12%
83%
18%
72%
19%
60%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Total L.A. Co. Orange Co. InlandEmpire
San Diego Cen. Coast Fresno Sacramento Bay Area
Would you rather have redistricting conducted by the State Legislature, or an independent commission?
State Leg.
Ind. Comm.
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 7WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
A plurality of voters in the sample voted against Prop. 77 in 2005.
I’d like to talk for a second about last year’s special election in California, where voters considered several ballot initiatives. One of them, Proposition 77, would have amended the process for redistricting California’s Senate, Assembly, and Congressional districts. It required a panel of three judges, selected by legislative leaders, to adopt a new redistricting plan. Do you recall whether you voted for or against Proposition 77 – the redistricting initiative?
37%42%
19%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Voted For Voted Against (Don't Know)
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 8WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
Even those who voted NO on Prop. 77 support the concept of an independent redistricting commission.
21%
66%
7%
89%
31%
53%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Total For Prop. 77 Against Prop. 77
Would you rather have redistricting conducted by the State Legislature, or an independent commission?
State Leg.
Ind. Comm.
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 9WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
The most important criteria for members of the commission are having no lobbyists, having a partisan balance, and no current elected officials.
5%
10%
12%
13%
13%
80%
73%
63%
59%
58% 4.1
4.1
4.5
4.5
4.2
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
26.SHOULD NOT BELOBBYISTS
A22.SHOULD HAVE ABALANCE OF REPS, DEMS,
AND IND
A24.SHOULD NOT HOLD ANYELECTED POLITICAL OFFICE
B23.SHOULD BEPOLITICALLY INDEPENDENT
A27.SHOULD NOT BEALLOWED TO RUN FOR
OFFICE: 3 YEARS
"5" Very Important "4-5" Somewhat Important
Now, suppose for a minute that the law was changed so that California’s legislative district lines would be drawn by an independent commission. This commission would be made up of a panel of individuals. I would like to read you a list of characteristics this group could have. For each characteristic I read to you, I would like you to rank it on a scale of 0 to 5, where 0 means that characteristic is not important at all, and 5 means that characteristic is very important. If you are not sure, please say so.
Mean
85%
83%
75%
72%
71%
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 10WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
Voters feel less strongly about members of the commission having experience in redistricting or never having held political office.
19%
16%
11%
17%
12%
51%
49%
47%
34%
29% 3.1
3.5
3.8
4.0
3.7
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
20.SHOULD REFLECTGEOGRAPHICDIVERSITY
19.SHOULD REFLECTETHNIC / RACIAL
DIVERSITY
B28.SHOULD NOT BEALLOWED TO RUNFOR OFFICE: 10
YEARS
21.SHOULD HAVEEXPERIENCE INREDISTRICTING
B25.SHOULD NEVERHAVE HELD ANY
ELECTED POLITICALOFFICE
"5" Very Important "4-5" Somewhat Important
Now, suppose for a minute that the law was changed so that California’s legislative district lines would be drawn by an independent commission. This commission would be made up of a panel of individuals. I would like to read you a list of characteristics this group could have. For each characteristic I read to you, I would like you to rank it on a scale of 0 to 5, where 0 means that characteristic is not important at all, and 5 means that characteristic is very important. If you are not sure, please say so.
Mean
70%
65%
58%
51%
41%
B25 [29% Less Important]
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 11WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
Voters favor considerable public involvement in the drawing of district maps. They also strongly support keeping neighborhoods and cities together.
24%
27%
29%
30%
86%
79%
78%
63%
53%
52%
48%
81%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
B47.PROPOSED MAPSSHOULD BE CIRCULATED:
PUBLIC HEARINGS
A46.PROPOSED MAPSSHOULD BE CIRCULATED:
THE INTERNET
37.NEIGHBORHOODSSHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER
A38.CITIES SHOULD BEKEPT TOGETHER
Very Important Somewhat Important Total Important
Now, turning to the actual district maps that could be drawn by an independent redistricting commission. Here are some different standards that a commission could use to draw district lines. For each, tell me if it is a very important, somewhat important, a little important, or not at all important standard to consider in drawing district lines.
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 12WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
Voters are moderately supportive of compactness and competitiveness as redistricting criteria. Voters do not value drawing lines so that incumbents don’t have to run against each other.
35%
22%
24%
22%
74%
60%
38%
39%
38%
37%
16%
61%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
B39.COUNTIES SHOULD BEKEPT TOGETHER
45.DISTRICTS SHOULD BECOMPACT / NOT HAVE
CRAZY SHAPES
A40.DISTRICT LINES:COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS
44.DON'T FORCEINCUMBENTS TO FACE EACH
OTHER
Very Important Somewhat Important Total Important
Now, turning to the actual district maps that could be drawn by an independent redistricting commission. Here are some different standards that a commission could use to draw district lines. For each, tell me if it is a very important, somewhat important, a little important, or not at all important standard to consider in drawing district lines.
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 13WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
Men and women have similar priorities, with women rating more highly the need to keep neighborhoods and cities together.
TotalB47.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: PUBLIC HEARINGS 86% (63%)
37.NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER 81% (52%)
A46.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: THE INTERNET 79% (53%)
MenB47.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: PUBLIC HEARINGS 84% (64%)
A46.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: THE INTERNET 80% (53%)
37.NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER 77% (50%)
WomenB47.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: PUBLIC HEARINGS 88% (62%)
37.NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER 88% (54%)
A38. CITIES SHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER 82% (53%)
% Total Imp. (%Very Imp.)
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 14WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
Voters of all races choose public input and keeping neighborhoods or cities together as top redistricting criteria.
WhiteB47.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: PUBLIC HEARINGS 85% (62%)
A46.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: THE INTERNET 81% (51%)
A38. CITIES SHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER 80% (52%)
BlackB47.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: PUBLIC HEARINGS 94% (65%)
A46.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: THE INTERNET 85% (41%)
37.NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER 82% (47%)
HispanicB47.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: PUBLIC HEARINGS 87% (63%)
37.NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER 82% (55%)
A46.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: THE INTERNET 69% (58%)
% Total Imp. (%Very Imp.)
TotalB47.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: PUBLIC HEARINGS 86% (63%)
37.NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER 81% (52%)
A46.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: THE INTERNET 79% (53%)
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 15WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
Democrats and Independents are strong supporters of public involvement.
DemocratsB47.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: PUBLIC HEARINGS 88% (67%)
37.NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER 84% (55%)
A46.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: THE INTERNET 78% (53%)
IndependentsB47.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: PUBLIC HEARINGS 90% (69%)
37.NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER 83% (51%)
A46.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: THE INTERNET 75% (57%)
RepublicansB47.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: PUBLIC HEARINGS 85% (56%)
A46.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: THE INTERNET 84% (52%)
37.NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER 79% (49%)
% Total Imp. (%Very Imp.)
TotalB47.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: PUBLIC HEARINGS 86% (63%)
37.NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER 81% (52%)
A46.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: THE INTERNET 79% (53%)
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 16WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
With 93% of anti-Prop. 77 voters saying public hearings are important, it should be noted that these voters want to be more involved in the process.
For Prop. 77B47.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: PUBLIC HEARINGS 83% (58%)
A46.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: THE INTERNET 80% (52%)
37.NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER 78% (50%)
Against Prop. 77B47.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: PUBLIC HEARINGS 93% (68%)
37.NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER 85% (55%)
A46.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: THE INTERNET 82% (58%)
% Total Imp. (%Very Imp.) TotalB47.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: PUBLIC HEARINGS 86% (63%)
37.NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER 81% (52%)
A46.PROPOSED MAPS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED: THE INTERNET 79% (53%)
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 17WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
If the State Legislature has to play a role, 75% of voters prefer an indirect role.
Let us suppose that the State Legislature, for constitutional reasons, would have to play a role in this process. Regarding this role, with which of the following FOUR statements would you say best describes your view?
A) The legislature should directly choose the members of a independent redistricting commission.
B) A list of pre-screened, qualified nominees should be presented to the legislature by an outside group. The Legislature would then be allowed to strike candidates from that list, but not to add any candidates.
C) A list of pre-screened, qualified nominees should be presented to the legislature by an outside group. The Legislature would then be allowed to choose the final commission members from that list
D) Each party in the legislature should select members representing the opposite party – that is, the Democrats choose Republicans to sit on the commission, and the Republicans choose Democrats to sit on the commission.
11%
27% 26%22%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
A) Leg. Directly Choose B) Strike Pre-screenedNominees
C) Chose from Pre-screened Nominees
D) Party Chose EachOther's Members
75%
Redistricting in CaliforniaPage 18WWW.LAKERESEARCH.COM
Contact Information
This survey by Lake Research Partners was sponsored by:
California Common Cause (www.commoncause.org/ca)
3250 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1005
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 252-4552
1005 12th Street, Ste. C
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 443-1792Contact: Kathay Feng, Executive Director
League of Women Voters of California (www.lwvc.org)
Jacqueline Jacobberger, President
801 12th Street, Suite 220
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 442-7215
Contact: Trudy Schafer, Program Director
The Rose Institute (rose.research.claremontmckenna.edu)
Adams Hall, 340 E. Ninth Street
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 621-8159Contact: Douglas Johnson, Rose Institute Fellow
This report can be downloaded at www.commoncause.org/ca
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