In 2017, the City began the transition from at-large to by-district elections. The district-based maps were adopted on June 13, 2017 by the Fremont City Council with an ordinance approving six new Council districts and establishing a phase-in schedule. In the November 2018 election, voters participated in the first district-based election when four City Council seats were up for election; District 1 (Northwest portion of the city – two‑year term), District 2 (Central north portion), District 3 (Central portion), and District 4 (Eastern portion). In the November 2020 election, voters in District 1 (Northwest portion), District 5 (South portion), and District 6 (Central south portion) each elected a City Councilmember, and all voters decided the Mayor's position.
Every ten years, following each federal census, cities that use district-based election systems must engage in a redistricting process to review the boundaries of voting districts and re-adopt district boundaries based on current census data to ensure that voting districts remain substantially equal in population and still protect the rights of members of communities of interest to vote for the candidates of their choice. Data from the 2020 census may create the need to adjust voting district boundaries to address changes in population or demographics since the previous 2010 census. The U.S. Census Bureau announced that it will be delayed in delivering the data this review requires. Instead of delivering the data by July 31, 2021, data will be delivered by September 30, 2021. The City of Fremont will host a regular election on November 8, 2022, and boundaries for voting districts must be adopted not later than 205 days before that election. Therefore, district boundaries must be adopted no later than April 18, 2022.
This process will also require the City to provide extensive information and noticing to encourage civic engagement, host four public hearings, and adopt boundaries under defined parameters. The City of Fremont is encouraging participation by all communities, including non-English speaking and will be providing all information regarding the redistricting process in seven languages: Spanish, Chinese Traditional and Chinese Simplified (Chinese- Cantonese and Chinese- Mandarin) Hindi, Tagalog, Punjabi, and Vietnamese. The City of Fremont has enlisted demographer services from National Demographics Corporation, Inc. to assist in managing the City’s redistricting process to ensure overall compliance with data analysis, map creation, website administration, timeline, and noticing requirements.
Residents are encouraged to engage in this redistricting process by informing the City Council about where Communities of Interest exist and/or proposing district maps. It is vital that members of the community participate so that the boundaries reflect the needs of our changing demographic. More information can be found on our new website. If you have any questions please contact our staff by email.