Democracy Rules

Redistricting is the process of redrawing electoral district boundaries to reflect population changes identified every 10 years by our census. Gerrymandering involves the deliberate manipulation of political boundaries for electoral advantage, usually to benefit incumbents or a political party. Partisan state legislatures using improved software now design districts which pack opponents into as few districts as possible, leaving district maps that are skewed towards one party.

Critics claim gerrymandering is responsible for the current gridlock in Congress because a small number of voters have elected a large number of representatives. In our last presidential election, gerrymandering was cited as the reason one party was awarded more Congressional seats while receiving fewer votes. They say our Congress “does not look like our nation” because congressional districts have been so drastically altered. Each state uses its own standards for creating partisan districts. In the states where the legislature is in charge of redistricting, the potential for gerrymandering often makes this process very contentious. Redistricting is often contested in court by the losers of the new plan. A small number of states carry out congressional redistricting by an independent or bipartisan commission, with some of these plans requiring the approval of the legislature.

Pending Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.4307 - John Tanner Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act (117th Congress 2021-2022)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Steve Cohen (TN)

I oppose reforming current redistricting policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA).
I support redistricting plans developed by an independent redistricting commission by: 1.) Requiring that a state that has been redistricted after an apportionment of Representatives may not be redistricted again until after the next apportionment, unless the state is ordered by a court to conduct a subsequent redistricting in order to comply with the Constitution or enforce the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 2.) Requiring that a state must establish an independent redistricting commission to develop redistricting plans that meet specified criteria. If such a plan is not enacted into law, a state's highest court may select a plan developed by the state's commission. If the state court does not select a plan, a U.S. district court must develop a plan. 3.) Requiring the Election Assistance Commission to make payments to states to carry out redistricting. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Steve Cohen (TN) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

Winning Option »» I support redistricting plans developed by an independent redistricting commission by: 1.) Requiring that a state that has been redistricted after an apportionment of Representatives may not be redistricted again until after the next apportionment, unless the state is ordered by a court to conduct a subsequent redistricting in order to comply with the Constitution or enforce the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 2.) Requiring that a state must establish an independent redistricting commission to develop redistricting plans that meet specified criteria. If such a plan is not enacted into law, a state's highest court may select a plan developed by the state's commission. If the state court does not select a plan, a U.S. district court must develop a plan. 3.) Requiring the Election Assistance Commission to make payments to states to carry out redistricting. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Steve Cohen (TN) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.