PRESS RELEASE

2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission
Receives Official Census Data from Statewide Database

SACRAMENTO, CA—Today, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) received notification that the official redistricting database for the State of California has been released. These data will allow the Commission to begin redistricting the state’s congressional, State Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization districts.

The official redistricting database is now publicly available on the Statewide Database’s website (https://statewidedatabase.org/redistricting2021/), and contains the following datasets:

  • Census data from the P.L.94-171 Redistricting Data File that were adjusted to reflect the reallocation of data from certain incarcerated persons to their last residential address.,
  • Citizen Voting Age Population data from the 2015-2019 release of the American Community Survey on 2020 Census Blocks
  • Statement of Registration and Statement of Vote Data from statewide elections on 2020 Census Blocks

“We’ve been preparing for this day, when we begin to redraw the lines in a fair and transparent manner,” stated Commission Chair Neal Fornaciari. “We are looking forward to fulfilling our Constitutional mandate on behalf of the people of California.”

“The Statewide Database is pleased to release the official redistricting database for the State of California. These data will allow the Commission and local jurisdictions throughout the state to begin constructing their new electoral districts. The redistricting database is available free of charge at: https://statewidedatabase.org/redistricting2021/ and accessible to all Californians,” stated Karin Mac Donald, Director for the Statewide Database.  

The P.L. 94-171 redistricting data is a tabulation from the decennial census that includes counts of population by race, ethnicity (Hispanic or Latino origin), voting age, housing occupancy status, and group quarters population, all at the census block level.

In California, the State's Citizens Redistricting Commission and most local jurisdictions including Cities and Counties are required by law to use the official redistricting dataset provided by the Statewide Database. This dataset is different from the data that the census provides in that it has reallocated data from incarcerated persons that were enumerated in facilities under the control of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to their last residential address.

Every 10 years, after the federal government publishes updated census information, California must redraw the boundaries of its electoral districts so that the state’s population is evenly allocated among the new districts.

In 2008, California voters passed the Voters First Act, authorizing the creation of the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw new State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization district lines. In 2010, the Voters First Act for Congress gave the Commission the responsibility of drawing new Congressional districts following every census.

For more information, please visit WeDrawTheLinesCA.org.

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