Redistricting is the process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts so that each has a similar number of people. Gerrymandering is drawing those lines to favor a party or group. Legislatures, independent commissions, and courts all take part, and the maps decide who represents which voters in Congress, state legislatures, and local bodies.
People usually ask who draws the maps, what rules limit how lines can be drawn, how courts review maps that are challenged, and how district lines affect competition and fairness. They also ask how census results feed into the process and what reformers propose to change it.
An independent team explaining how government works
Republicans looked at the political situation in early 2025 and saw an opportunity that seemed almost too good to be true. The Trump administration was back…
The Supreme Court ruled on the Texas redistricting case in December 2025. The decision allows states to redraw congressional maps between censuses. The Court's decision to…
In November 2025, a three-judge federal panel blocked Texas from using a new congressional map for the 2026 midterms. The court issued a preliminary injunction in…
Voters are unhappy with their government. This anti-incumbency sentiment, defined as a desire to vote out officeholders, is a constant in U.S. elections. Polling frequently captures…
The year 2025 marks a sharp break from the century-old norm of once-a-decade redistricting. From Austin to Sacramento, a fierce political battle has erupted…
The U.S. Constitution requires a national census every ten years for one fundamental purpose: to determine how political power is allocated among states in…
Every ten years, after the census count is complete, politicians across America grab their maps and get to work. The lines they draw determine…
Every ten years, America redraws its electoral map. These aren't just lines on paper—they determine who represents you in Congress, who sits in your…
