Redistricting definition
Redistricting is the process of redrawing voting districts to reflect population changes. States control the process under federal rules and set their own timelines.
Redistricting is the process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts to reflect changes in population over time. The redistricting process determines how communities are grouped for political representation and influences who is elected to Congress, state legislatures, and local governing bodies.
Redistricting is a state process governed by federal law. States have broad authority to establish and adjust their own redistricting practices, including the timing of redistricting.
What is the purpose of redistricting?
The primary purpose of redistricting is to ensure equal representation. As populations grow or shift, districts must be adjusted so that each contains roughly the same number of people.
How often does redistricting occur?
Redistricting typically occurs every 10 years, following the decennial census.
Redistricting and gerrymandering
Gerrymandering is the manipulation of district boundaries during the redistricting process to favor a particular political party, group, or incumbent. While redistricting is a necessary process for fair representation, gerrymandering undermines this goal by creating districts that dilute certain voters’ influence or entrench political power.
Gerrymandering is characterized by intentionally manipulated district boundaries that give one political group an unfair advantage. It often results in oddly shaped districts and employs tactics such as packing voters of one group into a few districts or spreading them across many.
Gerrymandering reduces electoral competitiveness and creates outcomes that do not necessarily reflect the overall political makeup of an area.
