Berkeley Enlists Public Input Redrawing Its Political Map

BERKELEY, CA — Berkeley residents are being offered an opportunity to participated in the redistricting process.

Residents can propose new boundaries for Berkeley's eight council districts that fairly represent the city’s residents without political considerations.

The city has created an online tool to help residents redraw its political map. The districts can also be drawn up on paper.

“A principal goal is to create maps that keep people of similar social and economic interests together, and, in doing so, help strengthen their political representation,” city officials said in a statement.

The submissions will be sent to an independent commission that for the first time will create the maps instead of elected officials who hold those seats and may have a stake in the outcome.

The redistricting process follows once-a-decade Census tallies of how neighborhoods have grown or shrunk, and each of the city's eight political districts is re-drawn to have roughly the same number people and provide fair representation.

“Give your perspective as a resident or community member about what fair representation would look like!” city officials said.

Residents can submit online form by visiting here.

The form can also be submitted by emailing: redistricting@cityofberkeley.info, or by mail by sending it to the City Clerk Department (2180 Milvia St., 1st Floor, Berkeley, CA 94704.

Residents can also make an appointment to submit the form in person by calling (510) 981‐6908.
For more information call the City Cleark’s Office at (510) 981-6900.