California’s Statewide Special Election is coming up soon, and a new measure will be put on our ballots: Proposition 50. This bill temporarily redraws voting district lines to favor Democratic seats in retaliation to Texas’ rigged gerrymandering in order to gain more Republican seats. Proposition 50 goes against the principles of honesty and integrity to community bonds. It’s just as relevant to Moraga as it is to the rest of California, and its effect will reach us.
The Californian legislature has decided to call this proposition the “Election Rigging Response Act”, which is, according to some, a misnomer. This law is “fighting fire with fire…[California is] just gerrymandering to combat other [states’] gerrymandering,” senior Mason Chang stated. “So it's not like they're trying to respond to election rigging. It's just like we're going to [outmaneuver] another state's election rigging.”
Among the main points that those against the proposition make, one that sticks out is that the proposed borders separate communities and “it should come as no surprise that Proposition 50's politician-drawn maps create serious consequences for cities, counties, school districts, and other special districts across California,” reads “Prop 50’s Gerrymander,” a report put together by social justice organizations from around the state.
According to this report, the proposed redistricting is another excuse to separate communities. Borders will further fragment counties already divided, and will even cut across small towns and communities. To name one example, the proposition will “divide the corridor [running along the northernmost parts of Contra Costa County] into three separate congressional districts…break[ing] apart a population that has built political influence through unity.” This area (running from Richmond to Oakley) houses a “historic Black population…rooted in shared schools, churches, local amenities and resources” and who has, over decades, “stood together to advocate on critical issues such as food deserts and income inequality.”
Proposition 50 also calls for a very hypocritical action. The official voter guide accompanying the ballots says that it “asks the U.S. Congress to change federal law and propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to require redistricting done by ‘fair, independent, and nonpartisan redistricting commissions nationwide.’” What this proposition proposes is not at all fair and nonpartisan; if it passes, we’ll be redistricting “in response to Texas’ redistricting,” according to the Quick Reference Guide for voters. Why are we asking for a mandate for nonpartisan conduct if what we’re doing is incredibly partisan?
Among other things, Proposition 50 will kick off a redistricting war. Texas is gerrymandering and this proposition does the same act –fighting fire with fire. This is going to inspire more states to get involved and redistrict, and soon, new voting lines will be drawn each year across every state.
“American democracy is on fire,” reads the rebuttal to the argument in favor of the proposition, which can be found in our Official Voter Information Guides. “But accelerating gerrymandering only adds fuel!”
This proposition is not for those who wish for peace, nor is it for those with fair and nonpartisan ideals. It is a partisan act of retribution, which the opposition says “was written by politicians, for politicians.” Proposition 50 debases political integrity and community unity, both of which are fundamental parts of a productive democracy. If we want things to run smoothly, if you’re wary of hypocrisy and division, and if you’d like to avoid a nationwide conflict of perpetual gerrymandering, vote no on Proposition 50.
