California is about to set its political boundaries in stone for the next decade, a process that will shape partisan control, determine the power of minority voters and ultimately cost the state a congressional seat.

Under the Voting Rights Act, the commission has an obligation to draw maps that ensure minority communities are able to elect candidates of their choice. Sometimes that requires a majority of voters; however, sometimes it does not.

“We are for sure looking at that area for VRA considerations and trying to figure out what are our obligations,” said Sara Sadhwani, an expert in Asian American and Latino voting at Pomona College and chair of the Citizens Redistricting Commission. “We’ve heard that (desire) loud and clear and would like to see what’s possible.”