Districting FAQs

Districting FAQs2022-07-07T21:14:05-07:00
What are district-based elections?2022-07-07T21:17:53-07:00

Under a District-based election system, there would be 5 separate election districts in Lomita with roughly equal populations. A candidate for the City Council must reside within a specific election district and is elected only by voters residing within that same election district. In district-based elections, the candidate who receives the most votes in that district wins the election.

What election system does the City currently use?2022-07-19T18:29:20-07:00

Currently, the Lomita City Council consists of five Council Members who are all elected at-large. This means any eligible voter who lives in Lomita can run for office representing the City at large, and every voter may vote for all five of the City Council Member seats, regardless of where they live in the City. If two Council seats are open, then the two candidates who received the two highest votes won the election. Once elected, the five City Council Members each serve four-year terms of office with a limit of two terms for Mayor.

Why does district formation matter to me?2022-07-07T21:19:34-07:00

District formation determines which neighborhoods and communities are grouped together into a district for purposes of electing a councilmember to represent that district. The formation process provides residents the opportunity to share how you think district boundaries should be drawn to best represent your community. For more information on the formation process or to provide your input, you can contact DrawLomita@lomitacity.com.

What criteria will our City Council use when drawing district lines?2022-06-28T16:17:45-07:00

To the extent practicable, district lines will be adopted using the following criteria: 

  1. geographically contiguous districts, 
  2. the geographic integrity of local neighborhoods or communities shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division, 
  3. geographic integrity of a city shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division, 
  4. easily identifiable boundaries that follow natural or artificial barriers (rivers, streets, highways, rail lines, etc.), and 
  5. lines shall be drawn to encourage geographic compactness. In addition, boundaries shall not be drawn for purposes of favoring or discriminating against a political party or candidate.
What are Communities of Interest?2022-07-07T21:20:53-07:00

There are many types of common interests that may identify a Community of Interest. For example, communities may be defined by the location of geographic boundaries or features, such as housing subdivisions, parks, roads or highways. Communities may share a common culture or language. Communities may be defined by their neighborhood, or by the location of cultural, religious or educational institutions. Certain public services, like public schools and public transit may also help define a community.

How can I get involved?2022-07-07T21:24:27-07:00

The City will be holding public hearings to receive public input on where district lines should be drawn. Those public input hearings will be held on:

Summary of District Formation/Redistricting Law, Criteria, 2020 Census, and Process (First Public Hearing) August 16, 2022 @ 6pm
Second Public Hearing September 6, 2022 @ 6pm
Public Workshop September 2022, Date & Time TBD
City Council Proposed Map(s) Published on City Website January 10, 2023
Presentation of City Council Proposed Map(s)
Pre-Final Map Public Hearing
January 17, 2023 @ 6pm
Public Workshop February 2023, Date & Time TBD
Presentation and Adoption of Final City Council District Boundaries Map Pre-Final Map Public Hearing (First Reading) Spring 2023
Final Adoption of City Council District Boundaries Map (Second Reading) Spring 2023
What do the acronyms and categories mean on the demographic sheets?2022-06-23T19:16:14-07:00

Common acronyms demographic categories:

NH: Non-Hispanic
VAP: Voting age population
CVAP: Citizen Voting Age Population
CVRA: California Voting Rights Act
FAIR MAPS Act:  Fair And Inclusive Redistricting for Municipalities and Political Subdivisions

Do I have to submit a completed map?2022-07-07T21:21:41-07:00

No, you do not need to submit a fully completed map. You can draw boundaries for only your neighborhood or only a portion of the city. It is helpful if you submit written commentary with your map describing why the particular neighborhood or area should be kept together in a single district.

Can I submit more than one map?2022-07-07T21:22:04-07:00

Yes, you may submit more than one map. Please draw as many maps as you like. We suggest you submit only your top 2-3 preferred maps to assist the City in focusing on the map that best represents your community, but there is no limit.

Where can I learn more about districting?2022-07-07T21:05:51-07:00

The following are a non-exhaustive list of online resources related to distracting/redistricting:

How will our City Council notify the public about the district formation process?2022-07-07T21:20:31-07:00

The City will communicate with residents directly through our various digital and hard copy outlets – the City E-Newsletter, Website, Social Media, and hardcopy quarterly Newsletter. Also, we will make a good faith effort to notify community groups of various kinds about the District formation process, and reach out through local media outlets as well. Language translation and other services for application languages (e.g. Spanish) will be provided at the public input hearings if residents submit a request in advance. The City Council will notify the public about District formation public input hearings, post maps online before adoption, and create a dedicated web page for all relevant information about the District formation process.

Please send any questions, comments, and map suggestions to DrawLomita@LomitaCity.com; or contact the City by phone at (310) 325-7110.

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