How often does redistricting happen?

Redistricting happens once every 10 years, after a census that is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. But there are often drawn-out legal battles over new maps, and boundaries are sometimes invalidated by courts between redistricting cycles. For example, after the 2011 redistricting, the North Carolina legislature was ordered to create several new maps after courts declared that previous boundaries were unfairly drawn.

Who determines how redistricting happens?

Most states give their legislatures power over district boundaries, sometimes subject to a veto by the governor. Others rely on a commission to draw the lines or use a hybrid model. In practice, this means that in most states, politicians play a direct role in creating maps that could either help or hurt their party’s chances in future elections. Republicans have an advantage over the process this time , as they did in 2010, The Post reported. Among the 37 states where elected officials have final say over district boundaries, 20 are under Republican control, eight are under Democratic control and nine are split.

Is gerrymandering the same thing as redistricting?

Redistricting is the process of tweaking district boundaries or creating new districts. Gerrymandering means intentionally manipulating that process to give one side an unfair advantage. This can happen in several ways, but it often means either concentrating the other party’s supporters in one or more districts, known as packing, or spreading those supporters thinly across many districts, known as cracking. Both methods serve to undermine the power of those voters. Partisan gerrymandering, which seeks to boost a particular political party, and racial gerrymandering, which seeks to dilute the voting power of people of a certain race, are two types of gerrymandering. The Supreme Court first recognized the concept of a “racial gerrymander” in a 1993 case involving North Carolina’s congressional map.

What is a redistricting commission and what do they do?

A redistricting commission has the power to draw maps, and it typically operates outside the direct authority of a state legislature. Members of the panels are sometimes affiliated with a political party, but not always. Depending on the state’s rules, some may be politicians or just ordinary voters. The process varies by state. In some, members of a redistricting commission are appointed or chosen from a set of nominees by elected officials, such as the governor or a presiding officer of a legislative chamber. In others, members of the public can apply and may be selected at random or picked by another body, such as a judicial panel. Nonpartisan advocates and experts often call for states to allow independent redistricting commissions to handle the process, arguing it would help avoid political bias.

Who does redistricting affect?

Redistricting affects everyone, especially when it adds to political polarization. As The Post has reported, competitive congressional districts are disappearing as redistricting work continues this cycle. The process can have a particular impact on marginalized groups whose influence is at risk of being diluted as maps are redrawn. This is true of Black voters and other voters of color who have been historically targeted in redistricting efforts, particularly in Southern states. In mid-2018, for example, a panel of federal judges in Virginia ordered that nearly a dozen state legislative districts be redrawn, ruling their existing boundaries undercut the influence of Black voters in violation of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment. Former attorney general Eric Holder called the decision “an important ruling against racial gerrymandering,” adding that African Americans “have had their voting power diluted and their voices diminished” since the maps were put in place in 2011. The Supreme Court left the ruling in place the following year.

How does redistricting affect me?

Redistricting will affect you in different ways based on your state, how the process runs there and which party holds power. If you live in California, for example, the state’s independent redistricting commission approved a map on Dec. 20. If you live in Texas, new maps created by the state legislature were signed into law in October — and are now facing a number of lawsuits over allegations the Republican-drawn maps discriminate against Latinos. Visit The Post’s state-by-state guide for more information here . To see how lines might be changing in your community, you can also type in your address on this page .

What states will I be hearing a lot about?

Arizona: Arizona’s independent redistricting commission unanimously approved draft maps in late October, though further tweaks were expected after public input. Of the proposed congressional districts, four would be competitive. California: California’s independent redistricting commission approved a map on Dec. 20 that created more districts with a majority of Latino voters. Colorado: In early November, the Colorado Supreme Court unanimously approved a map proposed by the state’s independent redistricting commission. Because Colorado’s population grew in the past 10 years, the state gained a seat, which was drawn north of Denver and will be politically competitive. Latino advocacy groups argue the map — particularly the boundaries of the new district — unfairly dilutes the power of Latino voters. Florida: Florida’s new maps likely won’t be finalized until 2022. Until then, draft boundaries proposed by the state House have revealed a more obviously pro-Republican bias than those released by the state Senate. Experts have speculated that the state GOP is debating, as Cook Political Report analyst Dave Wasserman tweeted in late November , “how aggressive a map they are comfortable with” and what they can likely “get past the [state] Supreme Court.” Iowa: Iowa’s new congressional map was signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) in early November. The legislature had approved a second proposed set of political boundaries from the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency about a week prior. Wasserman told the Des Moines Register that the second map was “a dream” for the GOP, comparing it to “what Republicans would have drawn if it were totally up to them.” Illinois: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed a new congressional map into law in late November that could add a seat for Democrats and take away two from Republicans. As The Post reported , the new boundaries cement Democrats’ political advantage in the state while forcing a number of incumbents into potential primaries against one another. Michigan: In Michigan, the redistricting process has been dominated by a dispute over public transparency. A coalition of news outlets sued the state’s redistricting commission in December, seeking several memos that were discussed behind closed doors in late October. Approval of draft maps is expected in late December. New York: New York redistricting will be pivotal in determining whether House Democrats keep their majority in 2022. The process is led by a bipartisan commission, but the majority-Democratic state legislature is permitted to draw maps if it rejects the commission’s work or the commission cannot agree. A vote by the panel is expected in early January. North Carolina: North Carolina’s 2022 primary elections were delayed by about two months in December amid lawsuits challenging new district lines drawn by Republicans. Nonpartisan experts have decried the map as one of the most gerrymandered in the country. The majority-Democratic state Supreme Court has vowed to issue a final ruling before Jan. 11. Ohio: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed a new map into law in November that experts described as skewed toward the GOP. The National Redistricting Action Fund, backed by Holder, sued in state court over the boundaries, and Black voters also filed a federal lawsuit, arguing the map dilutes their power. Pennsylvania: In Pennsylvania, the redistricting process accelerated in December as a House committee released a proposed map submitted by a voter. Two senators are expected to release their own map the following week, with potential floor votes anticipated in January. Texas: A new map favoring Republicans was signed into law in late October by Gov. Greg Abbott (R). As of December, it faced a number of lawsuits, including one from the Justice Department claiming the new districts intentionally dilute the voting power of people of color. Virginia: The Virginia Supreme Court released a proposed map in December after the state’s redistricting commission failed to reach an agreement on new districts. After soliciting public input, the court must approve the lines, which were drawn by two appointees. Wisconsin: In mid-November, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) vetoed a map approved by Republican legislators. Later that month, the state Supreme Court sided 4-3 with the GOP in embracing an approach that would involve minimal changes to current district boundaries. That “least-change” approach is expected to benefit Republicans.

What is redistricting?

Q: What is redistricting?

Redistricting is the process of drawing congressional and state legislative maps to ensure everyone’s vote counts equally. It can be a powerful tool for supporting fair elections — or manipulated to guarantee a built-in advantage for one party. Here’s why it’s necessary and also controversial. Congressional districts are required to have roughly equal numbers of people. So after every major census, states look at population shifts and tweak their districts’ boundaries to restore balance. It sounds like a simple process, but it’s not. That’s because the shape of each district — what areas it includes and excludes — can determine which party is more likely to win the seat. On a larger scale, this means redistricting helps shape which party controls Congress.

This article is part of a series of explainers we are publishing ahead of the midterm elections. Share it with a friend or let us know what questions you have about politics, voting or elections here.

Redistricting is underway around the country, and it will continue to receive intense scrutiny ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

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If you follow political news, you’ve likely seen stories about it — particularly concerns about gerrymandering. The process of redistricting is complex but critical, helping to decide who holds power in American politics before anyone casts a ballot.

The Washington Post is creating tools and pages (such as this one) aimed at making it easier to understand.

Here are answers to some basic questions about redistricting and how it affects you.

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