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Transition to By-District Trustee Area ElectionsTop of Page
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California Voting Rights ActTop of Page
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BackgroundTop of Page
The California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) is intended to minimize racially polarized voting in Board Trustee elections by moving agencies from at-large elections to voting districts. On February 14, 2025, the District received a notice of alleged violation of the CVRA from the Shenkman & Hughes, PC law firm of Malibu, CA. The letter specifies that it was sent on behalf of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project and that organization’s members residing in the District. The notice asserts that the District’s Governing Board at-large elections are characterized by racially polarized voting and violate the CVRA and demands that the District switch from at-large elections to district-based elections. “Racially polarized voting" means voting in which there is a difference in the choice of candidates or other electoral choices that are preferred by voters in a protected class, and in the choice of candidates and electoral choices that are preferred by voters in the rest of the electorate.
The transition to a district-based election system is an open, public process where public input is highly sought after and appreciated. California Elections Code Section 10010 mandates that five public hearings must be held throughout the transition process, but the Board of Trustees may choose to hold as many public community workshops as necessary to gather as much public input as possible within the time constraints for the overall project. The initial public hearings gather input from the community to better understand the distinct neighborhoods within ESUHSD; this information is used to create the draft district maps that will be released in the following months.
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ProcessTop of Page
Community input and census data are used to determine how districts should be drawn in the East Side Union High School District. To assist with the transition, the Board of Trustees hired Redistricting Partners, a firm that specializes in drawing district boundaries for jurisdictions.
The formal districting process includes five in-person community public hearings with the Board of Trustees to provide opportunities for the public to engage in the process.
There are two phases of public engagement:
Phase 1: Communities of Interest (Public Hearing Dates: May 12 and May 20, 2025)
Before any district maps are prepared by the consultant, the public is encouraged to share input at the public hearings to help define local Communities of Interest (COI). This includes gathering demographic information about neighborhood geography and how residents relate to their school district.
Two public hearings are held to review the process and gather input. Residents can also provide input by filling out Communities of Interest forms.
Link: Community Interest Form (download fillable form)
Phase 2: District Mapping (Public Hearing Dates: June 26 and July 15)
Census data and Communities of Interest feedback are used by the consultant to develop draft maps. The draft maps will be made available to the public at least seven (7) days before the third, fourth and fifth public hearings. The public can also submit draft maps through online tools or by hand through printable maps provided by the District. Two public hearings are held to collect feedback and review draft maps. The Board of Trustees will consider adoption of a final district map and determine election sequencing during a fifth public hearing.
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TimelineTop of Page
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April 8, 2025: Regular Board Meeting - California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) Overview and Adoption of Resolution of Intent to Transition
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May 12, 2025, at 6:30 PM: Special Board Meeting - Public Hearing #1
Wm. C. Overfelt High School - Library, 1835 Cunningham Avenue, San Jose
The public is invited to provide input regarding the composition of the districts. -
May 20, 2025, at 6:30 PM: Special Board Meeting - Public Hearing #2 Pre-Map
Yerba Buena High School - Student Union, 1855 Lucretia Avenue, San Jose
The public is invited to provide input regarding the composition of the districts. -
June 12, 2025: To-Published-By Date for Draft Maps by demographer and the potential sequence of the elections if members of the Board will be elected in their districts at different times to provide for staggered terms of office.
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June 26, 2025, at 6:30 PM: Special Board Meeting - Public Hearing #3
Andrew P. Hill High School - Student Union, 3200 Senter Road, San Jose
The public is invited to provide input regarding the content of the draft map or maps and the proposed sequence of elections. - July 8, 2025: Last day to publish any revised draft maps for consideration at public hearing #4
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July 15, 2025, at 6:30 PM: Special Board Meeting - Public Hearing #4
Wm. C. Overfelt High School - Library, 1835 Cunningham Avenue, San Jose
The public is invited to provide input regarding the content of the draft map or maps and the proposed sequence of elections. -
Date to be Determined: Board Meeting - Public Hearing #5 - Map Decision and Election Sequencing
Final public hearing and the Governing Board shall take action to adopt a final map and approve the election sequencing. The Governing Board may extend the process by directing the revision of the final map(s) if necessary.
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Public Hearings / Board Meeting MaterialsTop of Page
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Date
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Supporting Information
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May 12, 2025: Special Board Meeting
6:15 PM
Wm. C. Overfelt High School
1835 Cunningham Avenue, San Jose
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Notice of Public Hearing
English | Spanish | Vietnamese
Campus Map: Wm. C. Overfelt High School
Presentation: Districting 101
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Community of InterestTop of Page
We Want to Hear from You. Tell us about your Community of Interest!
The East Side Union High School District has initiated the process of transitioning from at-large to district elections. As part of this process, the Board of Trustees want to hear from you on how these boundaries should be drawn. Complete this form to tell the Board of Trustees about your community of interest – keeping communities of interest together is a valued criteria in the districting process.
What is a Community of Interest?
A community of interest is a “contiguous population that shares common social and economic interests that should be included within a single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation.” They are the overlapping sets of neighborhoods, networks, and groups that share interests, views, cultures, histories, languages, and values and whose boundaries can be identified on a map. The following elements help define communities of interest:
- Shared interests in schools, housing, community safety, transit, health conditions, land use, environmental conditions, and/or other issues.
- Common social and civic networks, including churches, mosques, temples, homeowner associations, and community centers, and shared use of community spaces, like parks and shopping centers.
- Racial and ethnic compositions, cultural identities, and households that predominantly speak a language other than English.
- Similar socio-economic status, including but not limited to income, home-ownership, and education levels.
- Shared political boundary lines from other jurisdictions, such as school districts, community college districts, and water districts.
Please consider the following questions and criteria when considering your community of interest (for consideration only, no need to provide answers):
- Does your community have a shared culture, characteristics, or bond?
- Is your community geographic in nature? Is your community able to be mapped? Is there density within your community?
- Describe your community’s relationship with the District and how it is affected by policy decisions made by ESUHSD.
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Frequently Asked QuestionsTop of Page
Why are we making the transition to district-based elections?
Once ESUSHD received the letter from Attorneys Shenkman & Hughes alleging a violation of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA), the District was forced to make a decision to proceed toward a district-based elections system, or to remain “at-large” and to face subsequent legal challenges from Mr. Shenkman. To avoid potential high costs of attorney’s fees and other court-related penalties, the District chose to transition within the specified extension period to the district-based elections system. You can read more about the California Voting Rights Act here.
What is a 'Community of Interest'?
A 'Community of Interest' is a group of people in the same geographically definable area who share common social and economic interests. Some examples of Communities of Interest are:
- Senior citizens
- LGBTQIA+ communities
- Renters/Homeowners
- People who live downtown or in a neighborhood
- Dog park community
- Residents who share a common language
- People who use the same transportation systems
What’s the difference between an “at-large” election system and a “districts-based” elections system?
In an at-large elections system, ESUHSD has five elected Governing Board Members, who are elected by registered voters throughout the District's attendance area. Governing Board Members are elected to four-year terms, and the Board President's seat is rotated annually among the five Board Members. In a “districts-based” elections system, the District will have district lines drawn, which would separate the ESUHSD into specific districts, each with one Governing Board Member who resides within that district and who is elected only by registered voters residing in that particular district. The Board Member would still be elected to a four-year term in either elections system.
When will district-based elections go into effect?
The first District-based election will be held in November 2026.
Under district-based elections, will all five Governing Board Members be elected at the same time?
No, under district-based elections, three Board Members will be elected in one cycle, and the remaining two will be elected in the next cycle.
Can individuals run for a district if they do not live within its boundaries?
No, representatives must live within the district they wish to represent. If they do not reside within the new district boundaries, they would be ineligible to run for that specific district.
What happens if there is only one candidate or no candidates running for a Governing Board Member seat in a district?
If only one candidate runs, that individual will be considered elected to the Governing Board. If no candidates run for a seat in a district, the situation will be handled in the same way as a vacancy. This will be addressed according to the California Elections Code.
What criteria will be used to decide which two districts will hold elections first?
State law does not specify the criteria for choosing which districts go first. If there is a district or community that is typically underrepresented, it may be prioritized. Otherwise, the decision will be made by the Governing Board.
What is the deadline for completing the districting process?
State law allows the parties to enter into an extension of time for completion of the process within certain prescribed time limits. The district anticipates that the Board will complete this process on or before October 5, 2025.
Are district boundaries permanent?
No. The District is required to review and adjust the district lines following each census. We will next review the district maps in 2031-2032 and make changes based on the data received in the census.
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ResolutionsTop of Page
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Resolution #2024/2025-28 Re: Intent to Initiate a Change of District's Election System from At-Large Trustee Elections to By-Trustee Area Elections in Single-Member Trustee Areas and Directing Superintendent to Retain Appropriate Consultants, Including Demographer and Community Outreach Consultants to Support the Board of Trustees In This ProcessAdopted April 8, 2025 (English | Spanish | Vietnamese)
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News Releases/Public AnnouncementsTop of Page
Announcement: Transition to By-District Trustee Area Elections - Issued May 5, 2025
English | Spanish | Vietnamese