Legal Definitions - redistricting

Definition: Redistricting is the process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts to reflect changes in population. It is also known as reapportionment. The U.S. Supreme Court has mandated federal reapportionment, which is outlined in the U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 2, Clause 3.

Examples: When a state's population changes, the number of representatives in the state legislature or the U.S. House of Representatives may need to be adjusted. For example, if a state's population grows, it may gain additional representatives, and the boundaries of the districts may need to be redrawn to ensure that each district has roughly the same number of people.

Another example is when a state loses population, it may lose representatives, and the boundaries of the districts may need to be redrawn to reflect the changes in population.

Redistricting is an important process because it can affect the outcome of elections. If the boundaries of a district are redrawn to include more voters from one political party, it can give that party an advantage in future elections. This is known as gerrymandering, which is different from redistricting.