Who Draws the Lines – Congressional Redistricting

IN THIS ARTICLE

Who draws congressional districts?

When does redistricting occur?

How did the 2020 census shape the 2022 political landscape?

Who draws congressional districts?

States have different entities in charge of redrawing congressional districts. Some states –   such as Washington, California, Arizona, and others – have independent or bipartisan commissions in charge. However, most states have legislators who draw district lines.

Republican or Democrat-controlled legislation can influence where the lines are drawn and give their party an advantage. Partisan mapmakers can craft strong and difficult-to-flip districts by dividing their opposition party’s supporters across many districts or into a single district to dilute voting power. This process is known as gerrymandering.

Six states adopted new systems for drawing lines to force bipartisan consensus and improve the redistricting process. Using commissions has been one such means of reform. However, partisan power still reigned supreme in 2021, with 28 states who utilized legislators to determine new maps.

The path to a commission

A growing number of states have shifted redistricting power away from legislators to various commissions. For example, Arizona established an independent commission in 2000 in attempts to end gerrymandering practices.

Arizona’s commission is made up of five members. Lawmakers appoint two Democrats and two Republican commissioners from a pool of applicants, and the cohort of partisan members select an independent chair. Although lawmakers play a role in selecting commissioners, they do not get to vote on updated maps.

Other states have different types of commissions, with specific criteria on appointee selections and map-making processes.

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When does redistricting occur?

When data from the Census is released, the redistricting process begins. Population changes impact whether a state gains or loses seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate count, though, is unaffected by population changes.

Typically, state population numbers are due at the end of the year. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 Census results were delayed until April 2021.

On Aug. 12, 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau released block-by-block population counts. Census blocks are areas bounded by visible features (such as roads and railroads) and nonvisible boundaries (like property lines and county limits.) These blocks allow states to form equal-sized districts to account for population fluctuations.

Although states redraw district lines every ten years, courts may invalidate maps mid-decade and impose new lines or direct legislatures to do so, which happened in 2011 in Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

How does the redistricting process work?

1. U.S. Census Bureau provides states with initial population numbers.
2. The Bureau gives states block-by-block population counts.
3. Map makers can begin redistricting but must ensure districts are equal in population size and safeguard voters based on race or ethnicity, per the Voting Rights Act.
4. Depending on the state, additional rules or criteria might be enacted.

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How did the 2020 census shape the 2022 political landscape?

Maps made by state legislators and commissions affected 2022 midterm outcomes. Republican majorities often gave redistricting advantages to the GOP; similarly, this occurred with Democrat-controlled states. Other factors, such as incumbent retirements, candidate recruitment, campaign quality, and Biden’s approval ratings, also affected midterm results. Redistricting lines, nonetheless, played a significant role in congressional gains or loss and will continue to have a political impact for the next decade to come.

Gainers and losers from the 2020 Census

The map above shows states that either gained or lost a seat(s) in the House:

• Texas is the only state that gained two seats. Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina, and Oregon all won one additional seat.
• Six states in the industrial north – New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois – lost one seat. Likewise, California lost a seat for the first time ever.
• New York lost a seat after falling short by just 89 residents; however, it was in danger of losing two seats.
• The Sun Belt benefited from booming Latino populations as well as from people moving away from more liberal states, such as New York.