City of Signal Hill
Introduction to Districting
September 2, 2026 Dr. Justin Levitt, Vice-President
National Demographics Corporation
2 Election Systems
1. “At Large”
2. “From District” or “Residence” Districts
3. “By District”
The California Voting Rights Act
was written to specifically
encourage by-district elections.
September 2, 2026
3 CVRA Impact
Switched (or in the process of switching) as a
result of CVRA:
At least 350 school districts
46 Community College Districts
217 cities
1 County Board of Supervisors
Over 78 special districts
Cases So Far:
Palmdale, Santa Clara, Huntington Beach, and Santa
Monica went to trial on the merits. Palmdale, Santa
Clara, and Huntington Beach lost. Huntington
Beach is deciding whether to appeal. Santa Monica
went to the California Supreme Court, and is
awaiting further proceedings.
Modesto and Palmdale each spent about $1.8
million on their defense (in addition to the attorney
fee awards in those cases).
Santa Monica has spent an estimated $7 million so
far. Plaintiffs in Santa Monica requested $22 million
in legal fees after the original trial.
Sample settlements:
Palmdale: $4.7 million
Modesto: $3 million
Highland: $1.3 million
Anaheim: $1.1 million
Whittier: $1 million
Santa Barbara: $600,000
Tulare Hospital: $500,000
Camarillo: $233,000
Compton Unified: $200,000
Madera Unified: about $170,000
Hanford Joint Union Schools:
$118,000
Merced City: $42,000
An estimated $16 million in total
settlements and court awards so far.
September 2, 2026
4 Districting Process
4 Step Description
Community Workshop Introduction and Q & A period
September 2
Held prior to release of draft maps.
Education and to solicit input on the composition of districts.
Two Initial Hearings
September 8 & 22
Deadline for submission of draft maps for the October 13 public hearing
Deadline for draft maps
October 2
Maps must be posted at least 7 days prior to 3rd Release draft maps hearing.
October 6
Two meetings to discuss and revise the draft maps and to discuss the election sequence.
Two hearings on draft maps
October 13 & 27
Additional or revised maps posted 7 days prior to 4th hearing.
Additional or revised community maps may be submitted before October 16.
Additional or Revised Maps
October 20
Map adopted via ordinance
Final map must be posted at least 7 days prior to adoption.
Map adoption
November 10
September 2, 2026
5 Equal Population
Federal Voting Rights Act
No Racial Gerrymandering
“Shall not adopt election district
boundaries for the purpose of
favoring or discriminating against
an incumbent, political candidate,
or political party.”
1. Federal Laws 2. California Criteria
In prioritized order:
1. Geographically contiguous
2. Avoid division of
neighborhoods and
“communities of interest”
(Socio-economic geographic areas
that should be kept together)
3. Easily identifiable
boundaries
4. Compact
(Do not bypass one group of
people to get to a more distant
group of people)
2. California Prohibition
5 Districting Rules and Goals
Future population growth
3. Other Traditional
Redistricting Principles
September 2, 2026
6 Demographic
Summary
In a 5-district map, each
district contains about
2,382 people.
In a 4-district map, each
district contains about
2,978 people
September 2, 2026
Category Field Total Category Field Total
2020 Census Total Population 11,911 hs-grad 51%
Citizen Voting Age
Pop
Total 8,346 bachelor 24%
Voter Registration
(Nov 2024)
Total 7,479 graduatedegree 14%
Voter Turnout
(Nov 2024)
Total 4,980
Voter Turnout
(Nov 2022)
Total 3,243 Child in Household child-under18 30%
age0-19 20% Pct of Pop. Age 16+ employed 70%
age20-60 60% income 0-25k 12%
age60plus 20% income 25-50k 9%
immigrants 27% income 50-75k 8%
naturalized 65% income 75-200k 46%
english 55% income 200k-plus 20%
spanish 26% single family 47%
asian-lang 15% multi-family 53%
other lang 4% rented 50%
Language Fluency Speaks Eng. "Less than
Very Well" 18% owned 50%
Education (among
those age 25+)
Household Income
Housing Stats
Total population data from California's adjusted 2020 Census data. Citizen Voting Age Population, Age, Immigration, and other demographics from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey and Special Tabulation 5-year data. Turnout and Registration data from California Statewide Database.
Age
Immigration
Language spoken at
home
City of Signal Hill
7 Defining Neighborhoods
1st Question: How do you describe or name the area where you live? 2nd Question: What are its geographic boundaries?
What other neighborhoods are there?
Examples of physical features defining a neighborhood boundary:
Natural neighborhood dividing lines, such as highway or major roads, rivers, canals and/or hills
Areas around parks or schools
Other neighborhood landmarks
September 2, 2026 7
8 Defining Communities of Interest
8 California Elections Code Section 21130(c)(2):
A “community of interest” is a population that shares common social or economic interests that should be included within a single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation.
The shared interests may include (but are not limited to):
Shared public policy concerns such as education, public safety, public health, environment, housing, transportation, and access to social services. cultural districts;
Shared socioeconomic characteristics;
Similar voter registration rates and participation rates; and /or Shared histories.
Definitions of Communities of Interest may not include relationships with political parties, incumbents, or political candidates.
September 2, 2026
9 Possible Neighborhoods / Communities
September 2, 2026
Percent Renters
Household Income
$75,000 or higher
10 Public Mapping and Map Review Tools
Different tools for different purposes
Different tools for different levels of technical skill and interest Simple “review draft maps” tool
Easy-to-use “Draw your neighborhood” tool
Paper-based simple “Draw a draft map” tool
Powerful, data-rich online “Draw a draft map” tool
Whether you use the powerful (but complicated) online mapping tool, the paper kit, or just draw on a napkin, we welcome your maps! September 2, 2026 10
11 Map Review Tool
Online Interactive Review Map
ESRI’s “ArcGIS Online” – similar to Google Maps in ease of use Used to review, analyze and compare maps, not to create them Includes overlays of “community of interest” and other data September 2, 2026 11
12 Map for Drawing Communities
Draw Your Communities map
For those not interested in drawing population-balanced districts No population numbers – just streets
Show us where your community and explain what unites the area English and Spanish
September 2, 2026
13 Simple Map Drawing Tool
Paper “Public Participation Kit”
For those without internet access or who prefer paper Total Population Counts only – no demographic numbers English and Spanish
September 2, 2026
14 Online Map Drawing Tool
Simple “paintbrush & eraser” tool. A 4-minute “how-to” video is on the website. Full demographic data available
Create, collaborate and share your map
Remember: you must send in the link to your map when you finish or the City has no way to know you drew a map.
September 2, 2026
15 Your Turn:
1. What area do you consider your neighborhood?
2. What are your “communities of interest”?
3. Any other questions about the process, criteria, maps, tools or any other part of this process?
September 2, 2026
16 Share Your Thoughts
Website
https://drawsignalhill.org/
Email
[email protected]
September 2, 2026 16