Bill > SB689

This bill modifies provisions of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) related to district-based elections for local jurisdictions. Specifically, the bill creates an exception for smaller cities with populations of 50,000 or fewer, allowing them to have up to 20% of their governing body members elected at-large while still being considered a district-based election system. The bill extends the notification period for potential CVRA lawsuits from 45 to 90 days, and requires that for smaller cities, any notice of potential CVRA violation must be signed by at least 100 voters. Additionally, the bill mandates that local jurisdictions make population and demographic data used for drawing election district boundaries publicly available on their websites at least 9 months before elections. The bill also provides more detailed requirements for public outreach and education during the redistricting process, including creating a public education plan, providing information in multiple languages, and maintaining a comprehensive redistricting website with detailed information about the redistricting process. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill creates additional costs for local governments, the state will be required to reimburse those costs. These changes aim to make the district-based election process more transparent, accessible, and responsive to community needs, particularly for smaller jurisdictions.

Government Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB689