NALEO Educational Fund Comments on Latino Civil Rights Redistricting Maps

LOS ANGELES, May 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund issued the following statement on the proposed redistricting maps presented to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF):

"MALDEF has proposed redistricting maps for California's Congressional and state legislative districts that significantly increase fair opportunities for the Latino community  to choose its elected leadership.  The number of Latino opportunity seats proposed in the MALDEF Civil Rights Maps should serve as the standard for what can be created to ensure that the state's new maps comply as required by law with the federal Voting Rights Act (VRA) and provide Latinos with a  voice in the electoral process.

"Under state law, strict adherence to the VRA is one of the highest priorities that the California Citizens Redistricting Commission must apply in drawing the state's new districts.  The Commission's maps, which will be released June 10, should create at least as many Latino opportunity seats as submitted in MALDEF's Civil Rights Maps and anything less may not ensure compliance with the VRA.  

"Latinos are California's second-largest and fastest-growing population group, and Census 2010 data revealed they accounted for an unprecedented 90% of the state's overall growth over the past ten years.  The future strength of the state's democracy depends on ensuring that these numbers result in an opportunity for full and fair representation for the Latino community.   The NALEO Educational Fund looks forward to continuing our work with the Commission in making this vision a reality."  

About NALEO Educational Fund

The NALEO Educational Fund is the nation's leading non-partisan, non-profit organization that facilitates the full participation of Latinos in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.

Contact: Rosalind Gold (213) 747-7606  x4420
[email protected]
Patricia Guadalupe (202) 546-2536
[email protected]

SOURCE NALEO Educational Fund

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED