Effect of the 2020 elections on redistricting
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redistricting procedures |
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2020 |
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Redistricting is the process of drawing new congressional and state legislative district boundaries. Redistricting occurs every 10 years after the publication of the decennial United States Census. The states themselves determine their own redistricting methods. These methods vary from state to state and, sometimes, within a state (for example, different methods may apply to congressional redistricting than to state legislative redistricting). The outcome of elections preceding a redistricting process can affect the final boundaries, particularly in states where legislatures or governors have control of or veto power over district boundaries.
Control of the post-2020 Census redistricting process changed in three states as a result of the 2020 elections:
- New Hampshire: Republicans won a 213-187 majority in the state house and a 14-10 majority in the state senate. As of 2020, New Hampshire's state legislature drew district boundaries subject to veto by Governor Chris Sununu (R).[1]
- Vermont: Democrats lost a veto-proof majority in the state house. As of 2020, boundaries drawn by the state legislature were subject to a veto from Governor Phil Scott (R), which cannot be over-ridden without a supermajority vote. [2]
- Virginia: Voters approved Question 1, a constitutional amendment that transferred redistricting authority from the General Assembly to a commission made up of eight state legislators and eight citizens. The redistricting plans produced by this commission are subject to possible veto by the state legislature. Democrats controlled both chambers of the state legislature heading into post-2020 Census redistricting.
Following the 2020 elections:
- Republicans had control of Congressional redistricting in 20 states and control of state legislative redistricting in 21 states.[3]
- Democrats had control of Congressional redistricting in 10 states and control of state legislative redistricting in 11 states.
- Independent commissions had control of Congressional redistricting in seven states and control of state legislative redistricting in 10 states.
- Politician commissions including members appointed by multiple political parties had control of Congressional redistricting in two states and control of state legislative redistricting in four states.[4][5]
- Four states had divided party control of Congressional redistricting and four states had divided party control of state legislative redistricting.
Redistricting overview
The table below shows redistricting procedures and partisan control of Congressional and state legislative redistricting in states following the 2020 elections. A blue cell indicates Democratic control, a red cell indicates Republican control, and a purple cell indicates split party control.
Who's in charge of redistricting?
Congressional redistricting
Most states are required to draw new congressional district lines every 10 years following completion of United States Census (those states comprising one congressional district are not required to redistrict). In 33 of these states, state legislatures play the dominant role in congressional redistricting. In nine states, commissions draw congressional district lines. In two states, hybrid systems are used, in which the legislatures share redistricting authority with commissions. The remaining states comprise one congressional district each, rendering redistricting unnecessary. See the map and table below for further details.[16][17]
State legislative redistricting
In 34 of the 50 states, state legislatures play the dominant role in state legislative redistricting. Commissions draw state legislative district lines in 14 states. In two states, hybrid systems are used, in which state legislature share redistricting authority with commissions. See the map and table below for further details.[16][17][18]
Redistricting after the 2020 census
See also
- Redistricting
- State-by-state redistricting procedures
- State legislative and congressional redistricting after the 2010 census
- United States census, 2020
Footnotes
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "New Hampshire," accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ Seven Days, "Dems and Progs Lose Supermajority in the Vermont House — By a Hair," November 4, 2020
- ↑ This state legislative count includes Arkansas' Board of Apportionment, which was made up of Republican officials after the 2020 elections.
- ↑ This state legislative count does not include Arkansas' Board of Apportionment, which was made up of Republican officials after the 2020 elections.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Ballotpedia is classifying Virginia's redistricting commission as a politician commission. However, the commission is made up of eight state legislators and eight citizens, and maps produced by the commission are subject to veto by the state legislature.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 A backup commission can become involved in the process.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 An advisory commission is also involved in the process.
- ↑ Republicans have supermajorities in the state legislature, which would allow them to override a possible Governor veto
- ↑ Republicans have supermajorities in the state legislature, which would allow them to override a possible Governor veto
- ↑ The governor's plan takes effect if the legislature cannot approve its own plan by joint resolution.
- ↑ Democrats have supermajorities in the state legislature, which would allow them to override a possible Governor veto
- ↑ Democrats have supermajorities in the state legislature, which would allow them to override a possible Governor veto
- ↑ Two separate commissions are involved in the state legislative redistricting process, one for the state Senate and one for the state House. No commission member can hold office in the legislature for four years after redistricting.
- ↑ If the legislature fails to adopt a plan, the secretary of state must draw the district lines.
- ↑ The legislature may amend the commission's plan with a two-thirds vote.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 All About Redistricting, "National Summary," accessed July 29, 2024
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 The American Redistricting Project, "State," accessed July 29, 2024
- ↑ NCSL, "Redistricting Commissions: State Legislative Plans," December 10, 2021
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