News & Updates

Grossmont Healthcare District Will Transition From At-Large to Zone-Based Elections

November 5, 2018 General

On October 19, 2018, the Grossmont Healthcare District Board of Directors adopted Resolution No. 05-18, “Resolution of the Grossmont Healthcare District Outlining the Intention to Transition From At-Large To District-Based Elections Pursuant to Elections Code 10010(e)(J)(A).”

This site will be updated with additional information as the process moves forward.

Currently, the District is governed by a five-member board of directors who are elected at large to four-year terms. They represent more than 500,000 people living within District’s 750 square miles in San Diego’s East Region (pictured above).

Background
Grossmont Healthcare District (“District”), like many health care districts and public agencies in California, has used an at-large election system since forming in the 1950s. With at-large systems, board members are elected by the voters of the entire district.

The California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (“CVRA”), effective January 1, 2003, made fundamental changes to minority voting rights in California, and drove changes to at-large voting systems. Because of increasing voter rights concerns under the CVRA, many public agencies in California are now transitioning to district-based or “zone” elections in which elections are within a district or zone that is a smaller part of the whole district. With district-based election systems, board members are elected only by the voters residing within that specific election district or zone.

The process for transitioning from at-large to district-based elections is outlined in Elections Code section 10010, requiring the following:

• The District first passes a resolution outlining the intention to transition from an at-large to district-based elections, including the steps it plans to take to facilitate the transition and the estimated time frame for doing so.

• The public is invited to participate in the initial public hearings, to provide input regarding the composition of the new districts.

• Once the initial public hearings are held, the District will then proceed to have the proposed map(s) drawn, utilizing a company that specializes in mapping and demographic data.

• Once the proposed map(s) are drawn, they will be published and made available to the public and will also provide for staggered terms of office and the potential sequence of the elections. The District will then hold at least two additional hearings at which the public will be invited to provide input regarding the content of the proposed map(s) and election sequence.

• Communication to non-English speaking communities is part of the transition process.

• Following the two final public hearings, the Board will determine the preferable map(s) and approve a resolution that divides the District into zones.

• This process will take approximately 180-days to complete. The last day for the District to complete the process is April 15, 2019. Linked here is a draft timeline with tentative hearing dates as part of the 180-day process.