Los Angeles voters approved Measure DD, which would create an independent redistricting commission when it comes time to redraw the city’s 15 council districts, rather than allowing council members to draw their own districts.

“It took leaked audio for everyday Angelenos to realize, ‘Look, this is what happened. People can manipulate district lines for their benefit and they do it here in Los Angeles.'” California Common Cause Voting rights & Manager of the Russian Redistricting Program Chavis Cárdenas.

Measure DD appeared on the ballot due to the release of secretly recorded racist audio of council members in 2022, which included former City Council President Nury Martínez and Council member Kevin de León, who just lost his bid for the re-election. They were heard discussing ways to preserve their power through the redistricting process. Thanks to Measure DD, lawmakers won’t be able to touch the new maps.

“Their almost unanimous approval arose from revulsion at what was revealed on those tapes,” said Councilwoman Nithya Raman. “The momentum came from those tapes. And I’m proud to say that I used that momentum to achieve real reform by taking power away from sitting councilors, which is not easy to do.”

So who qualifies to serve on an independent redistricting commission?

“The best variety of people are people from all walks of life who understand different parts of the city; who come from different backgrounds, whether they’re low-income people or people of greater wealth as well,” said Sara Sadhwani, assistant professor of politics from Pomona College. “People with a wide range of interests so they can really discuss how the lines should be drawn, which communities should be held together. It’s really about which neighborhoods come together to form a district, to have representation that reflects and responds to the ideas of Angeleno. on the ground.”

The new Los Angeles commission will be made up of 16 members, who will receive a small stipend for their work. Independent redistricting commissions already exist for congressional, state and supervisory districts.

The impact of the new commission will not be seen until after the 2030 census is taken, when the lines will be redrawn to reflect demographic changes.