California State Auditor Extends Supplemental Application Deadline for Citizens Redistricting Commission

SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The California State Auditor today announced a two-week extension of the supplemental application process for the Citizens Redistricting Commission. The new deadline is April 19th, 2010, 5 p.m. Applicants deemed tentatively eligible after the initial application process now have two more weeks to complete the supplemental application.

"The Voters FIRST Act does not require me to end the supplemental application period on a specific day, so I am extending the application period two weeks. While we are pleased that more than 1,500 of the tentatively eligible applicants have submitted the supplemental application, we realize that the process is time consuming. My office has received many applicant inquiries with questions about the process. Providing a two-week extension for completing the supplemental application will give all those that are interested more time to ask questions, get answers, complete the application and secure letters of recommendation," said California State Auditor Elaine M. Howle. "The application period will now close on April 19th at 5 p.m."

The supplemental application is the next step in the Commission application process, and voters who completed an initial application, and have been deemed tentatively eligible, must complete the supplemental application to be considered for serving on the Commission. The supplemental application requires applicants to answer several essay questions regarding their analytical skills, their ability to be impartial, and their appreciation for California's diverse demographics and geography. Additionally, applicants must provide three letters of recommendation.

"To assist applicants in the process, my office is offering a series of Webinars and also has a toll-free number and dedicated email address for applicants to access if they need assistance," continued Howle. "Additionally, other organizations across the state are also offering workshops and seminars to help applicants understand the process. To make sure that everyone who is interested has the opportunity to submit the supplemental application and gets the help and support they need, I believe extending the deadline two weeks to April 19th is the right thing to do."

Every 10 years, after the U. S. Census is completed, California begins the process of redrawing the district boundaries from which representatives of the State Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization are elected and serve, but Proposition 11—the Voters FIRST Act passed in November, 2008—transferred the responsibility of re-drawing those lines from the Legislature to a new, 14-member independent commission made up of California citizens.

For more information, on the Commission, please visit www.WeDrawTheLines.ca.gov. If you have questions, please call (866) 356-5217 or send an email to [email protected]. Supplemental application deadline is April 19th at 5 p.m. You can also follow We Draw the Lines on Twitter at @WeDrawTheLines and tag related tweets with #WeDrawTheLines.

SOURCE California State Auditor