“ YES ON 40 PROTECTS THE VOTER-APPROVED
INDEPENDENT CITIZENS REDISTRICTING
COMMISSION
A YES vote on Prop. 40 means that the State Senate maps
drawn by the voter-approved independent Citizens Redistricting
Commission will remain in place.
A NO vote on Prop. 40 gives the politicians an opportunity to
overturn the fair districts drawn by the independent Commission
—costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process.
PROP. 40 IS A SIMPLE CHOICE BETWEEN THE
VOTER-APPROVED CITIZENS COMMISSION AND
SELF-INTERESTED POLITICIANS
In 2008, California voters approved Proposition 11, which
created the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to
draw the district maps for the State Senate and State Assembly.
Before Prop. 11, the politicians in the state Legislature drew their
own uncompetitive districts, virtually guaranteeing themselves
re-election.
Now, a small group of Sacramento politicians is unhappy with
the results of the State Senate maps drawn by the independent
Commission. These politicians are using this referendum to try to
get their uncompetitive districts back.
THE POLITICIANS HAVE ALREADY FAILED IN COURT
When the same politicians tried a lawsuit against the State
Senate maps, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously
against them:
“. . . not only do the Commission-certified Senate districts
appear to comply with all of the constitutionally mandated
criteria set forth in California Constitution, article XXI, the
Commission-certified Senate districts also are a product of
what generally appears to have been an open, transparent and
nonpartisan redistricting process as called for by the current
provisions of article XXI.” Vandermost v. Bowen (2012)
We welcome you to read the whole ruling:
www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/archive/S198387.PDF
YES ON PROPOSITION 40 UPHOLDS THE WILL OF
CALIFORNIA VOTERS
California voters have voted three times in the last four years
to have district maps drawn by an independent Commission, not
the politicians:
• Yes on Proposition 11 (2008): created the independent
Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw the maps for the
State Assembly and State Senate
• Yes on Proposition 20 (2010): extended Prop. 11’s reforms to
California’s Congressional districts
• No on Proposition 27 (2010): rejected politicians’ attempt to
eliminate the independent Commission and give the power
to draw their own legislative districts back to the politicians
YES ON PROPOSITION 40—HOLDS POLITICIANS
ACCOUNTABLE
The passage of Proposition 11 and Proposition 20 and the
defeat of Proposition 27 created a fair redistricting process that
doesn’t involve Sacramento politicians!
Because of these voter-approved reforms, for the first time in
decades, the independent Commission drew fair districts for state
legislators and Congress, starting with the 2012 elections.
These redistricting reforms have put an end to political
backroom deals by ensuring the process is transparent and
open to the public. And, politicians are no longer guaranteed
re-election, but are held accountable to voters and have to
respond to constituent needs.
“The Commission took politicians out of the process and
returned power to the voters.”—John Kabateck, Executive
Director, National Federation of Independent Business/California
VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 40—STOP POLITICIANS
FROM OVERTURNING VOTER-APPROVED ELECTION
REFORM
www.HoldPoliticiansAccountable.org
JENNIFER A. WAGGONER, President
League of Women Voters of California
DAVID PACHECO, President
AARP California
ALLAN ZAREMBERG, President
California Chamber of Commerce ”

“ As the Official Sponsor of Proposition 40, our intention was to make sure its qualification for the ballot would stop the current Senate District lines from being implemented in 2012. The Supreme Court reviewed the process and intervened to keep district lines in place. With the court’s action, this measure is not needed and we are no longer asking for a NO vote. JULIE VANDERMOST, Sponsor Proposition 40 ”

“ As the Official Sponsor of Proposition 40, our intention
was to make sure its qualification for the ballot would stop the
current Senate District lines from being implemented in 2012.
The Supreme Court reviewed the process and intervened to keep
district lines in place. With the court’s action, this measure is not
needed and we are no longer asking for a NO vote.
JULIE VANDERMOST, Sponsor
Proposition 40 ”

“ A YES VOTE ON PROP. 40 IS STILL NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE VOTER-APPROVED INDEPENDENT CITIZENS REDISTRICTING COMMISSION Voters still need to vote YES on PROP. 40 to ensure the State Senate maps drawn by the voter-approved independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will remain in place—even though the sponsors of this referendum have indicated above that they are no longer asking for a “No” vote. Once a referendum qualifies for the ballot, it is impossible to remove it—even if backers abandon the measure, as they did above. PROP. 40 IS A SIMPLE CHOICE BETWEEN A COSTLY ALTERNATIVE PROCESS AND PROTECTING THE VOTER-APPROVED CITIZENS COMMISSION Voting YES on 40: • PROTECTS THE STATE SENATE MAPS drawn by the voter-approved independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. • SAVES TAXPAYERS hundreds of thousands of dollars. • HOLDS POLITICIANS ACCOUNTABLE:With district lines drawn by an independent citizens commission, politicians are no longer guaranteed re-election, but are held accountable to voters and have to respond to constituent needs. • UPHOLDS THE WILL OF VOTERS: Californians have voted three times in the last four years to have an independent commission draw district maps—NOT the politicians. A “No” vote on Prop. 40 would overturn the fair districts drawn by the independent Commission—and allow the politicians a chance to once again influence the redistricting process for their own gain. YES ON PROP. 40 Please join us and a broad coalition of good government, business, senior advocacy and civil rights groups in voting YES on Prop. 40. www.HoldPoliticiansAccountable.org KATHAY FENG, Executive Director California Common Cause JOHN KABATECK, Executive Director National Federation of Independent Business/California GARY TOEBBEN, President Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce ”