FAQs

Changes Coming to GSD's Election Process

The Goleta Sanitary District is embarking on a process to change from at-large elections to district-based elections. In 2018 the District approved a resolution declaring its intent to change from an at-large election system to a district-based system once the results of the 2020 census are available.

Currently each of the five governing board members is elected at-large (from anywhere within the District’s service area). In the future, one governing board member will be elected from each of five separate voting districts. The voting districts will be developed based on the new 2020 census data and input from the community. Moving to district-based elections will help ensure equal representation for all areas within the District’s service area.

The Goleta Sanitary District is one of several local governments which will be changing to district-based elections (others include the City of Goleta and the Goleta Water District). The District is working with Lapkoff and Gobalet Demographic Research Inc. to develop potential boundaries of the five voting districts that are sensible, geographically contiguous areas with near equal populations. There will be several public meetings throughout this process with opportunities for public input. If all goes as planned, the first district-based election will be held in November 2022.

Because the District’s Board of Directors recognizes the importance of making sure that all residents of the Goleta Sanitary District will be fairly represented and have opportunities to participate in the transition process, this page will be updated as meetings and hearings are scheduled, or any new changes are known.

What’s the difference between “at large” elections and “district-based” elections?

We currently have an at-large election system, where voters in the entire Goleta Sanitary District service area elect all members of the Board of Directors. “By-district” elections divide the jurisdiction into geographic districts. Voters in each district choose their Director, who must also live in that district. Registered voters will not be able to vote for Board of Directors candidates from districts in which they do not reside. Under the timeline adopted by the Board of Directors, a series of hearings and meetings are expected to take place beginning in the fall of 2021 with a final series of adoption hearings sometime in the spring of 2022.  The first district-based elections will occur in November 2022. 

What criteria are used to create election districts?

Many factors may be considered, but population equality is the most important. Other factors include:

• Communities of Interest
• Be compact
• Be contiguous
• Have visible (natural and man-made) boundaries
• Include respect for past voter selections
• Plan for future growth

What are communities of interest?

A community of interest is a neighborhood or community that would benefit from being in the same district because of shared interest, view or characteristics. Possible community features or boundary definitions include:

• School Attendance Areas
• Natural dividing lines such as major roads, hills, or highways
• Areas around parks and other neighborhood landmarks
• Common issues, neighborhood activities, or legislative/election concerns; and
• Shared demographic characteristics, such as:
  • Similar levels of income, education, or linguistic isolation
  • Languages spoken at home; and
  • Single-family and multi-family housing unit areas

When election districts are created, who decides the boundaries?

A professional demographer is hired by the District to create proposed district boundaries, with suggestions and feedback from residents. Residents will be able to provide input on boundaries and suggested criteria for creating boundaries. The districting process will be transparent and accessible to all residents. Ultimately, the Board of Directors adopts an ordinance establishing district boundaries.

If you have any questions regarding the transition process, or have input regarding communities of interest, please email Laura Romano, Management Analyst: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..