(a)
The commission shall be created no later than December 31, 2030, and in each year ending in the number zero thereafter.
(b)
The selection process is designed to produce a commission that is independent from the influence of the board and reasonably representative of the county’s diversity.
(c)
The commission shall consist of 11 members. The political party preferences of the commission members, as shown on the members’ most recent affidavits of registration, shall be as proportional as possible to the total number of voters who are registered with each political party in the County of Merced, or who decline to state or do not indicate a party preference, as determined by
registration at the most recent statewide election. However, the political party or no party preferences of the commission members are not required to be exactly the same as the proportion of political party and no party preferences among the registered voters of the county. At least one commission member shall reside in each of the five existing supervisorial districts of the board.
(d)
Each commission member shall meet all of the following qualifications:
(1)
Be a resident of the County of Merced.
(2)
Be a voter who has been continuously registered in the County of Merced with the same political party or no party preference and who has not changed their political party or no party preference for five or more years immediately preceding the date of their appointment to the commission.
(3)
Have voted in at least one of the last three statewide elections immediately preceding their application to be a commission member.
(4)
Within the eight years immediately preceding the date of application to the commission, neither the applicant, nor an immediate family member of the applicant, has done any of the following:
(A)
Been appointed to, elected to, or been a candidate for office at the local, state, or federal level representing the County of Merced, including as a member of the board.
(B)
Served as an employee of, or paid consultant for, an elected representative at the local, state, or federal level representing the County of Merced.
(C)
Served as an employee of, or paid
consultant for, a candidate for office at the local, state, or federal level representing the County of Merced.
(D)
Served as an officer, employee, or paid consultant of a political party or as an appointed member of a political party central committee.
(E)
Been a registered state or local lobbyist.
(5)
Possess experience that demonstrates analytical skills relevant to the redistricting process and voting rights, and possess an ability to comprehend and apply the applicable state and federal legal requirements.
(6)
Possess experience that demonstrates an ability to be impartial.
(7)
Possess experience that demonstrates an appreciation for the diverse demographics and geography of the
County of Merced.
(e)
An interested person meeting the qualifications specified in subdivision (d) may submit an application to the county elections official to be considered for membership on the commission. The county elections official shall review the applications and eliminate applicants who do not meet the specified qualifications.
(f)
(1)
From the pool of qualified applicants, the county elections official shall select up to 60 qualified applicants, taking into account the requirements described in subdivision (c). The county elections official shall make public the names of the selected applicants for at least 30 days. The county elections official shall not communicate with a member of the board, or an agent for a member of the board, about any matter related to the nomination process or applicants before the publication of the list of the selected
applicants.
(2)
During the period described in paragraph (1), the county elections official may eliminate any of the previously selected applicants if the official becomes aware that the applicant does not meet the qualifications specified in subdivision (d).
(g)
(1)
After complying with the requirements of subdivision (f), the county elections official shall create a subpool for each of the five existing supervisorial districts of the board.
(2)
At a regularly scheduled meeting of the board, the Auditor-Controller of the County of Merced shall conduct a random drawing to select one commissioner from each of the five subpools established by the county elections official.
(h)
(1)
The five commissioners selected
pursuant to subdivision (g), at a separate public meeting, shall review the remaining names of applicants, interview the finalists for appointment, allow public comment, and appoint six additional members to the commission, without respect to the subpools.
(2)
In order to be appointed, an applicant must receive the vote of at least three of the five selected commissioners.
(3)
The six appointees shall be chosen based on relevant experience, analytical skills, and ability to be impartial, and to ensure that the commission reflects the county’s diversity, including racial, ethnic, geographic, and gender diversity. However, formulas or specific ratios shall not be applied for this purpose. The five selected commissioners shall also consider political party preference, selecting applicants so that the political party preference of the members of the commission complies with
subdivision (c).
