districting

Districting is the process of drawing electoral district boundaries to establish political representation. It is usually carried out after a decennial census to reflect population shifts and ensure roughly equal populations across districts. Redistricting must comply with legal requirements that promote fair representation, contiguity, compactness, and respect for communities of interest.

Common criteria include equal population (one person, one vote), contiguity, compactness, respect for political subdivisions, and preserving communities of interest where feasible. In many jurisdictions race or language protections under the Voting Rights Act also shape district design. The process may be conducted by legislatures, independent or bipartisan commissions, or courts in some cases, and typically includes public hearings.

A central concern is gerrymandering, where boundaries are drawn to advantage a party or dilute a voter group. Techniques such as packing and cracking concentrate or split voters. To counteract partisan influence, some places use computer simulations, objective scoring, and transparent maps, with participatory processes and clear criteria.

Legal frameworks vary by country but aim to protect equal representation and minority rights. In the United States, the principle of one person, one vote comes from Reynolds v. Sims; the Voting Rights Act imposes additional protections; courts review district shapes for compliance with equal protection and anti-dilution standards. Other countries often employ nonpartisan or bipartisan commissions or statutory guidelines.

Districting shapes political power, minority representation, and policy outcomes. Debates focus on transparency, public participation, minimizing partisan bias, and balancing accuracy with electoral competitiveness.

The term gerrymander originates from Governor Elbridge Gerry and the 1812 Massachusetts district nicknamed the Gerry-mander.