Redistricting and Representation

Redistricting is the process of drawing the boundaries of the districts that elect members of Congress, state legislatures, and local bodies. Representation is the idea that the voters in each district have a voice in government. The census supplies the population counts, and legislatures, commissions, and courts are usually involved in drawing and reviewing the lines.

People usually bring questions about how seats in Congress are divided among the states and how district maps are made. Others ask what gerrymandering means, how population counts affect political power and funding, and who decides when a map is challenged.