Broward County FL Survey Powerpoint

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Survey Findings on Redistricting Reform in
California
Prepared by Lake Research Partners
1000 BROADWAY SUITE 294 OAKLAND, CA 94607 PHONE
510-286-2097 FAX [phone]
1726 M St., NW SUITE 500 WASHINGTON, DC
20036 PHONE [phone] FAX [phone]
This redistricting poll is supported in part by
The James Irvine Foundation
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Summary Description of Methods

• Interview dates April 18-23, 2006
• 800 interviews from a random sample of voters in
  California, margin of error /- 3.5
• Party Registration Breakdown 45 Democrat, 39
  Republican, 16 Decline to state/Other.
• Racial Breakdown 66 White, 16 Latino, 7
  African-American, 5 Asian, 5 other.

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By a 3-to-1 margin, California voters prefer
redistricting be done by an independent
commission.
Would you rather have redistricting conducted by
the State Legislature, or an independent
commission?
4
While Republican and Independent voters are most
supportive, a majority of Democrats also prefer
an independent commission.
Would you rather have redistricting conducted by
the State Legislature, or an independent
commission?
State Leg. Ind. Comm.
5
Majorities of white, Latino, and African American
voters prefer an independent commission.
Would you rather have redistricting conducted by
the State Legislature, or an independent
commission?
State Leg. Ind. Comm.
6
There is a solid preference for an independent
commission across the state. The strongest
preference is seen in Fresno and Sacramento.
Would you rather have redistricting conducted by
the State Legislature, or an independent
commission?
State Leg. Ind. Comm.
7
A plurality of voters in the sample voted against
Prop. 77 in 2005.
Id like to talk for a second about last years
special election in California, where voters
considered several ballot initiatives. One of
them, Proposition 77, would have amended the
process for redistricting Californias Senate,
Assembly, and Congressional districts. It
required a panel of three judges, selected by
legislative leaders, to adopt a new redistricting
plan. Do you recall whether you voted for or
against Proposition 77 the redistricting
initiative?
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Even those who voted NO on Prop. 77 support the
concept of an independent redistricting
commission.
Would you rather have redistricting conducted by
the State Legislature, or an independent
commission?
State Leg. Ind. Comm.
9
The most important criteria for members of the
commission are having no lobbyists, having a
partisan balance, and no current elected
officials.
Now, suppose for a minute that the law was
changed so that Californias legislative district
lines would be drawn by an independent
commission. This commission would be made up of
a panel of individuals. I would like to read you
a list of characteristics this group could have.
For each characteristic I read to you, I would
like you to rank it on a scale of 0 to 5, where 0
means that characteristic is not important at
all, and 5 means that characteristic is very
important. If you are not sure, please say so.
Mean
85
83
75
72
71
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Voters feel less strongly about members of the
commission having experience in redistricting or
never having held political office.
Now, suppose for a minute that the law was
changed so that Californias legislative district
lines would be drawn by an independent
commission. This commission would be made up of
a panel of individuals. I would like to read you
a list of characteristics this group could have.
For each characteristic I read to you, I would
like you to rank it on a scale of 0 to 5, where 0
means that characteristic is not important at
all, and 5 means that characteristic is very
important. If you are not sure, please say so.
Mean
70
65
58
51
41
B25 29 Less Important
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Voters favor considerable public involvement in
the drawing of district maps. They also strongly
support keeping neighborhoods and cities
together.
Now, turning to the actual district maps that
could be drawn by an independent redistricting
commission. Here are some different standards
that a commission could use to draw district
lines. For each, tell me if it is a very
important, somewhat important, a little
important, or not at all important standard to
consider in drawing district lines.
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Voters are moderately supportive of compactness
and competitiveness as redistricting criteria.
Voters do not value drawing lines so that
incumbents dont have to run against each other.
Now, turning to the actual district maps that
could be drawn by an independent redistricting
commission. Here are some different standards
that a commission could use to draw district
lines. For each, tell me if it is a very
important, somewhat important, a little
important, or not at all important standard to
consider in drawing district lines.
13
Men and women have similar priorities, with women
rating more highly the need to keep neighborhoods
and cities together.
Total Imp. (Very Imp.)
14
Voters of all races choose public input and
keeping neighborhoods or cities together as top
redistricting criteria.
Total Imp. (Very Imp.)
15
Democrats and Independents are strong supporters
of public involvement.
Total Imp. (Very Imp.)
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With 93 of anti-Prop. 77 voters saying public
hearings are important, it should be noted that
these voters want to be more involved in the
process.
Total Imp. (Very Imp.)
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If the State Legislature has to play a role, 75
of voters prefer an indirect role.
Let us suppose that the State Legislature, for
constitutional reasons, would have to play a role
in this process. Regarding this role, with which
of the following FOUR statements would you say
best describes your view? A) The legislature
should directly choose the members of a
independent redistricting commission. B) A list
of pre-screened, qualified nominees should be
presented to the legislature by an outside group.
The Legislature would then be allowed to strike
candidates from that list, but not to add any
candidates. C) A list of pre-screened,
qualified nominees should be presented to the
legislature by an outside group. The Legislature
would then be allowed to choose the final
commission members from that list D) Each party
in the legislature should select members
representing the opposite party that is, the
Democrats choose Republicans to sit on the
commission, and the Republicans choose Democrats
to sit on the commission.
75
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Contact Information

• This survey by Lake Research Partners was
  sponsored by
• California Common Cause (www.commoncause.org/ca)
  
• 3250 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1005
• Los Angeles, CA 90010
• [phone]
• 1005 12th Street, Ste. C
• Sacramento, CA  95814
• [phone]Contact Kathay Feng, Executive
  Director
• League of Women Voters of California
  (www.lwvc.org)
• Jacqueline Jacobberger, President
• 801 12th Street, Suite 220
• Sacramento, CA 95814
• [phone]
• Contact Trudy Schafer, Program Director
• The Rose Institute (rose.research.claremontmckenna
  .edu)
• Adams Hall, 340 E. Ninth Street