FAQ2021-08-30T19:22:16+00:00
What are district-based elections?2021-09-21T01:05:54+00:00

Under a district-based election system, the City of San Bruno would be divided into equally populated districts. A City Council candidate must reside within an election district and is elected only by voters residing within that same election district.

What election system does the City of San Bruno currently use?2021-09-21T01:06:25+00:00

Currently, the San Bruno City Council consists of five Council Members, including a directly elected Mayor. The four Council Members are elected at-large. This means any eligible voter who lives in the City of San Bruno can run for office, and every voter may vote for all four City Council Member seats, regardless of where they live in the City, to serve four-year staggered terms. Eligible voters may vote directly for a Mayor to serve a two-year term.

Why does districting matter to me?2021-09-21T01:07:19+00:00

Districting determines which neighborhoods and communities are grouped together into a district for purposes of electing a San Bruno City Council Member. The City Council will seek input in selecting the first district-based election map. You have an opportunity to share with the City Council how you think district boundaries should be drawn to best represent your community either during the public hearings or by submitting comments to districting@sanbruno.ca.gov.

What criteria will our City Council use when drawing district lines?2021-08-30T19:20:21+00:00
  1. Federal Laws
    • Equal Population (based on total population of residents as determined by the most recent Federal decennial Census and adjusted by the State to reassign incarcerated persons to the last known place of residence)
    • Federal Voting Rights Act
    • No Racial Gerrymandering
  2. California Criteria for Cities (to the extent practicable and in the following order of priority)
    • Geographically contiguous (areas that meet only at the points of adjoining corners are not contiguous.  Areas that are separated by water and not connected by a bridge, tunnel, or ferry service are not contiguous.
    • Undivided neighborhoods and “communities of interest” (Socio-economic geographic areas that should be kept together for purposes of its effective and fair representation)
    • Easily identifiable boundaries
    • Compact (Do not bypass one group of people to get to a more distant group of people)
    • Prohibited: “Shall not favor or discriminate against a political party.”
  3. Other Traditional Districting Principles
    • Respect voters’ choices / continuity in office
    • Future population growth
What are Communities of Interest?2021-08-30T19:20:00+00:00

A community of interest is a “contiguous population that shares common social and economic interests that should be included within a single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation.”

Below are useful excerpts from the Local Government Redistricting Toolkit by Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus (2020).

Communities of interest are the overlapping sets of neighborhoods, networks, and groups that share interests, views, cultures, histories, languages, and values and whose boundaries can be identified on a map.

The following elements help define communities of interest:

  • shared interests in schools, housing, community safety, transit, health conditions, land use, environmental conditions, and/or other issues;
  • common social and civic networks, including churches, mosques, temples, homeowner associations, and community centers, and shared use of community spaces, like parks and shopping centers;
  • racial and ethnic compositions, cultural identities, and households that predominantly speak a language other than English;
  • similar socio-economic status, including but not limited to income, home-ownership, and education levels;
  • shared political boundary lines from other jurisdictions, such as school districts, community college districts, and water districts.
How can I get involved?2021-09-21T01:08:03+00:00

Share your specific thoughts, draw a map, or attend an upcoming workshop to get involved!

At the hearings and workshops, we want you to:

  • Share your story
  • Define your neighborhood or community of interest
  • Explain why districting is relevant to your community
  • Get the tools you need to draw a map of one district or of all five districts
  • Share your opinions of the draft maps
  • Talk to your neighbors and local organizations
What do the acronyms and categories mean on the demographic sheets?2021-08-30T19:20:07+00:00

Common acronyms demographic categories:

  • NH: Non-Hispanic
  • VAP: Voting age population
  • CVAP: Citizen Voting Age Population
  • CVRA: California Voting Rights Act
  • FAIR MAPS Act: Fair And Inclusive Redistricting for Municipalities and Political Subdivisions
  • NDC: National Demographics Corporation (the firm hired to produce the maps and provide demographic data)
Do I have to submit a completed map?2021-09-21T01:08:33+00:00

No, you do not need to submit a fully completed map. You can draw boundaries for only your neighborhood or only a portion of the City of San Bruno. It is helpful if you submit written commentary with your map describing why the particular neighborhood or area should be kept together in a single district.

Can I submit more than one map?2021-09-13T19:38:18+00:00

Yes, you may submit more than one map. Please draw as many maps as you like.  We suggest you submit only your top 2-3 preferred maps to assist the City Council in focusing on the map that best represents your community; however, there is no limit.

What happens to the drafted maps?2021-09-21T19:26:19+00:00

After you submit your map, the demographic consultants will generate the population and other demographic details for your proposed map. Maps can be viewed on the Draft Maps page or on the Interactive Review Map.

Once submitted, maps are considered public records.

Where can I learn more about districting?2021-09-21T19:26:12+00:00
What happens if no candidate runs in a district?2021-10-13T23:53:32+00:00

Based on Elections Code Section 10229 (2), the recommended action would be for the City Council to appoint a qualified resident from the district where nobody ran for office.

How many districts should you draw in a proposed district map of San Bruno?2022-02-25T20:54:17+00:00

In the current districting process, the City will be adopting a four-district map.

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