California passes Prop. 20, redistricting reform

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In 2008, California voters took the power to draw legislative districts out of the hands of state lawmakers. On Tuesday, voters opted to remove their power to draw Congressional districts as well, handing that power over to the same independent commission that will draw state legislative boundaries, according to preliminary voting tallies and exit poll results.

The passage of Prop. 20 extends the power of the independent commission established when voters passed Prop. 11 in 2008. That measure was backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Prop. 20 was funded by Charles Munger Jr., the son of investment banker Charles Munger, who spent more than $12 million of his own money to pass Prop. 20. It was vigorously opposed by congressional Democrats including Rep. Howard Berman and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who wanted control of Congressional maps to remain in the hands of the Democratically controlled Legislature.

Political maps for legislative and congressional districts will be redrawn before the 2012 elections. New maps are drawn every 10 years after the U.S. Census is completed.

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-- Anthony York