Trustee Area Elections and Redistricting

 

 

Over the past school year, the District has explored transitioning from an “at-large” trustee election system to a “by-trustee area” system. During the fall semester, labor partner Campbell High School Teachers Association (CHSTA) encouraged the Board of Trustees to consider moving to a by-trustee system. Soon thereafter, the Board of Trustees learned that the City of Campbell had received a demand letter from a legal firm alleging that the city’s at-large method of election violates the CVRA. And, on January 15, 2019, Campbell’s City Council adopted a resolution of intent to transition from at-large to District-based Elections pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10010(e)(2).  After further study and in advance of receiving a demand letter, the District passed a similar resolution on May 16, 2019, in part to avoid possible litigation. By law, the process to establish the required election area maps must be completed in 90 days, so the District was required to conduct the process of examing draft election maps during the summer recess.

 

What’s the difference between at-large and by-trustee area elections?

Campbell Union High School District has always had an at-large election system, where voters of the entire District elect members to the Board of Trustees. The District has initiated the process to establish election areas (trustee areas) that would be roughly equal in population and in compliance with California Voting Rights Act (CVRA), the Federal Voting Rights Act, and the United States Constitution.  Using census data, the District’s demographer, National Demographics, Inc will create conceptual trustee area scenarios that divide the District into five new voting areas.

Will this impact where my student goes to school?

No, the district’s transition from at-large to by-trustee area voting will have no impact on school attendance zones.

Will the transition impact the representation of parent voters in the District?

The transition from the at-large election system to the by-trustee election system will not impact the number of voters or parents within the District's boundaries.  Every four years registered voters in the Campbell Union High School District will have the opportunity to vote and decide on one candidate for the Board of Trustees. The main difference is voters will only be able to vote for one candidate based on their trustee-area. We are committed to establishing trustee areas that will offer equal representation across our school district to ensure our Board of Trustees is representative of our community's diversity and interests.  

Why choose to move to by-trustee area voting?

The Board of Trustees made the decision to transition to the by-trustee election system to ensure compliance with the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). Recently, many cities, school districts and other public entities have been challenged under the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA), leading to very expensive and divisive litigation about their election process. The CUHSD Board of Trustees are committed to avoiding expenditures that do not directly benefit the children, families, and communities we serve. While CUHSD believes its elections have not been racially polarized, a move to by-trustee area elections enables us to prevent costly litigation in the future and ensure compliance under the law.

What is the CVRA?

The California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) prohibits the use of any election system “that impairs the ability of a protected class to elect candidates of its choice or its ability to influence the outcome of an election.” Jurisdictions can be sued if they elect their governing body using an at-large, from districts, or mixed election system. If the court finds against a jurisdiction, the jurisdiction must change its election system and pay the plaintiff’s attorneys, experts, and other expenses.

What criteria are used to create election districts?

Many factors may be considered, but population equality is the most important.

Other factors are used in the creation of election districts including:

• Communities of interest
• Natural and man-made boundaries
• Past voter selections
• Planning for future growth

How can I get involved and influence the trustee areas?

The process will include hosting a series of public meetings to collect community input regarding the proposed area maps and allowing community members to view the conceptual trustee area scenarios and provide comments. Following community input, it is anticipated that the Board of Trustees will choose the final map at a meeting in the Summer of 2019.

How will creating voting districts affect me?

During every election cycle, registered voters in the CUHSD will have the opportunity to vote for a candidate for School Board who lives in their trustee area. Registered voters will not be able to vote for school board candidates from areas in which they do not reside.