City Auditor Corrie Stokes Launches a Citywide Community Outreach Campaign on the City’s Redistricting Process
Applications will be accepted for the Applicant Review panel from June 1 through Sept. 1, 2020.
Beginning June 1, Austinites can apply to serve on one of two opportunities to redraw the City Council districts and shape Austin’s future. Austin residents can apply at RedistrictATX.org.
The 14-member Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will redraw the boundaries of the council districts.
The Applicant Review Panel will select 60 of the most qualified applicants for the redistricting commission. Three independent auditors with CPAs will be selected to serve on the panel.
Austin City Charter tasks the City Auditor with widely publicizing the application process to ensure applicant pools are large, diverse, and qualified. Applicant pools must be diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, and geography.
The redistricting process happens every ten years and coincides with the census. In 2012, Austin voters elected to move to single members districts from an at large system. The ten City Council districts were initially created in 2013 by a diverse group of Austin residents who serve on the historic Redistricting Commission.
“Since 2013 Austin’s population has increased by approximately 15 percent with more than 130,000 residents,” said City Auditor Corrie Stokes. “Additionally, the voters eligible to participate on the redistricting commission increased by 345 percent in part due to the switch from May to November elections. We are excited to work with the community on this important initiative to create a commission that reflects Austin’s diversity.”
Applications will be accepted for the Applicant Review panel from June 1 through Sept. 1. The Independent Redistricting Commission application period opens June 1 and ends Sept. 30. The Commission will be formed in early 2021., The work lasts March 1 through Nov. 2021 with the new districts in effect in Nov. 2022.
One of the main eligibility criteria for the Commission include Austin residents who have been registered to vote in Austin for five or more years without interruption and have voted in at least three of the last five City of Austin general elections. The full guidelines are available at RedistrictATX.org.
The City Auditor’s Office will implement a citywide community and engagement outreach campaign to inform and educate Austin residents of this important opportunity to shape Austin’s future.
The campaign will last June 1 through Sept. 30 and will include a series of opportunities to educate the community on the process. A full schedule can be found at RedistrictATX.org
Details
June 29, 2020
City of Austin