Redistricting Policy

The term gerrymandering refers to the practice of drawing electoral district lines to favor one political party, individual, or constituency over another. When used in a rhetorical manner by opponents of a particular district map, the term has a negative connotation but does not necessarily address the legality of a challenged map. The term can also be used in legal proceedings and documents; in this context, the term describes redistricting practices that violate federal or state laws. Learn more.

Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. It is often a closely contested issue due to perceived undue partisan influence in the process. Proponents of redistricting reform maintain that political parties and incumbents draw the district lines for their benefit at the expense of proportionality and fair representation. This practice is known as gerrymandering.

Majority-minority districts are districts in which a minority group or groups comprise a majority of the district's total population. To learn more, click here.