From the Riverside Press Enterprise:

Drawing the lines in 2011

The Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will be chosen through a months-long process.

Jan. 1, 2010: Commission application process begins. Applicants, or their immediate relatives, cannot have been candidates, campaign workers, legislative staff, or given $2,000 or more in political contributions. They must have had the same party affiliation for at least the past five years. They must have voted in at least two of the past three statewide general elections.

A randomly chosen panel of three auditors — one registered Democrat, one registered Republican, one other — will review the applications.

Aug. 1, 2010: Auditor panel will begin choosing 60 most-qualified applicants — 20 Democrats, 20 Republicans, 20 others.

Nov. 15, 2010: Deadline for legislative leaders to remove up to two names from each of the three applicant groups.

Nov. 20, 2010: Auditor will randomly choose three Democrats, three Republicans and two others.

Dec. 31, 2010: The eight-member panel will choose six additional members – two Democrats, two Republicans, two others.

Sept. 15, 2011: Final maps due.

Commission members will receive $300 per diem.

Multiple public hearings.

The new districts have to meet the following criteria.

Districts need to encourage geographical compactness.

To the extent practicable, each state Senate district shall be comprised of two Assembly districts, and each Board of Equalization district shall be comprised of 10 Senate districts.

Districts shall not be drawn to favor or discriminate against an incumbent, political candidate or political party.

The three final maps must be approved by at least nine affirmative votes — at least three votes from both Republicans and Democrats and three from the other parties.

Information about serving on the Citizens Redistricting Commission is available at:

1-866-356-5217, http://www.bsa.ca.gov/redistricting, orvotersfirstact@bsa.ca.gov