San Mateo County’s Board of Supervisors will soon decide whether to place a Charter amendment on next fall’s ballot to create an Independent Redistricting Commission to draw Board of Supervisors district maps. This reform would promote fairness, transparency, and public trust by removing direct control from elected officials. Learn what’s at stake, what happens next, and how to take action.
Contact your Supervisor today and share your views
Mark Your Calendar: May 5 Board of Supervisors Meeting
We urge you to attend and make your support for this proposed Charter amendment heard at the Board of Supervisors meeting
Tuesday, May 5, 9 AM
Board of Supervisors Chambers, 500 County Center, Redwood City
For remote attendance, use the Zoom link in the meeting agenda. More information is located on the county website (click here).
Why this matters
District lines determine how communities are represented in county government. An Independent Redistricting Commission would draw these maps based on objective criteria and without changes from the Board of Supervisors – helping reduce conflicts of interest and increase public trust.
The League of Women Voters supports fair, transparent, and nonpartisan redistricting, and favors independent commissions to help ensure maps are drawn without political bias.
Learn more about Redistricting and the Board of Supervisors
What does the Board of Supervisors do?
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors sets local policy, approves budgets, and represents residents. The County has five supervisors.
What is redistricting?
Every 10 years, district boundaries for electing the supervisors must be redrawn based on new census data. Redistricting is important because district lines determine which candidates voters choose and which communities are represented. State law requires districts to have equal population, respect communities, and follow clear geographic boundaries. Counties use different processes to draw maps. Maps may be drawn: by the Board, or by advisory, hybrid, or independent commissions.
Why an Independent Redistricting Commission?
A thoughtfully designed independent redistricting commission reflects community diversity and operates through an open, transparent process with meaningful public participation. Independent redistricting commissions can:
• Reduce conflicts of interest by removing direct control from elected officials
• Increase transparency and public trust
• Encourage broader and more inclusive community participation
• Produce fairer, more representative, and more defensible district maps
What happened in 2021?
In 2021, San Mateo County used an advisory commission that proposed maps, but the Board of Supervisors ultimately selected and approved a different map, with relatively minor changes to the previous map. This means that functionally, district lines have not changed in 20 years.
What is being proposed?
The Charter Review Committee has recommended that the County Charter be amended to create an Independent Redistricting Commission to draw district maps for Board of Supervisors districts. If approved by the Board, voters will decide whether to adopt this change in the November 2026 election.
Do you need more information?
A full report on the background for establishing an Independent Redistricting Commission in the County Charter is here.
