GET THE FACTS

Redistricting 101

Everything you need to know.

Redistricting is the process used by governments, including Minnesota, to redraw political district boundaries and is based on the idea of “one person, one vote”, by creating districts that have roughly the same number of people.

Our Maps MN is advocating for a redistricting process that is transparent, accessible, and accountable to the public. These are our maps, and they should not be decided upon behind closed doors or based on a legislative map that was created in the 1960s. Minnesota has changed demographically in a big way since the 1960s. It’s time our political maps reflect those changes.

Overview

Key Terms

How it works

FAQ

Timeline

OVERVIEW

The Big Picture

After the chaos of the last year, we have the chance to take care of each other. Because of our communities’ (valid) lack of trust in systems, it can be easy to overlook opportunities to ensure our folks are granted the resources and support they are owed. Redistricting is one example.

Having our communities be part of how district maps are drawn is one of the ways that we can hold the government accountable for erasing us by showing them that we exist and will demand the resources we are owed.

The congressional representation we have relies on district maps. They determine the electoral power of a specific community and the ability for each community to be represented by people who share their experiences in life. Our most vulnerable communities have been displaced due to a public housing crisis exacerbated by the pandemic and left behind. When district maps are redrawn without consideration for the community, funding could be moved away from supporting the creation of infrastructure needed for our folks to survive and thrive.

Redistricting maps impact all types of policy decisions, such as housing, education, public transportation, and jobs. The maps should be done with us, not for us. When we come together to name what we need from these district maps, we can lean into our power to imagine and push for the changes our communities deserve so that our families, and future generations grow.

THE PROCESS

How Redistricting Works

The process of drawing new district maps is based on the idea of “one person, one vote”, by creating districts that have roughly the same number of people.  How does the government make sure the ideal of “one person, one vote” is followed? That’s where the US Census comes in.

Census data is the foundation for this process. The Census takes place every ten years and its data is used to draw new voting district maps. That is the tool used, to account for the ways that populations and communities have changed and moved across our country and in Minnesota.

Redistricting applies to all levels of government where district elections are held, including the U.S. House of Representatives, state legislatures, city councils, school boards, county boards, judicial, water districts, and more.

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How district lines are drawn influences who runs for public office, who is elected and the quality of the representation each person receives. Elected representatives are the people’s lobbyists and advocates, they are supposed to be our voice in spaces of power we are not able to access.  They make decisions that are important to our lives, from ensuring safe schools to adopting immigration policies. Who lives in a district can influence whether elected officials feel obligated to respond to a community’s needs and be politically accountable to constituents.  Voting district boundaries are in place for the next ten years, but policy impacts moved by politicians elected based on those district voting maps last well beyond that. Bad policies don’t go away because it’s a new census cycle or new district voting lines.

IMPORTANT DATES

Redistricting Timeline

By September 2021

Redistricting data from Census bureau is delivered, and the legislature establishes redistricting criteria

By February 2022

Legislature drafts maps, holds public hearings, completes maps.

By April 2022

Minnesota Supreme Court can review completed maps.

By May 2022

Candidates for office must file paperwork in their districts.

VOCABULARY

Redistricting Key Terms

Redistricting:

Redistricting is the process used by governments to redraw political district boundaries(maps) based on the idea of “one person, one vote.” 

Gerrymandering:

Drawing district lines to give one group an unfair advantage over another group. 

One Person, One Vote:

The Equal Population rule. A phrase that describes the constitutional requirement that each district be substantially equal in total population. 

Reapportionment:

The redistribution of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, based on changes in a state’s population so that a state’s representation in Congress is proportional to its population. 

Packing:

An overconcentration of a minority population into a suboptimal number of districts.

Cracking:

The splitting of a BIPOC community into two or more districts so that it’s not a significant portion of any district. 

Contiguity:

A characteristic describing a boundary’s single and uninterrupted shape (i.e. all areas in the district are physically connected to each other).

Community of Interest:

A neighborhood, community, or group of people who have common policy concerns and would benefit from being maintained in a single district.

Majority-Minority District:

A district where one racial or ethnic community equals 50% or more of the voting-age population.

QUICK FACTS

Redistricting FAQs

What is redistricting and why is it done?

Redistricting is the process used by governments to redraw political district boundaries. Redistricting applies to all levels of government where district elections are held, including the U.S. House of Representatives, state legislatures, city councils, school boards, county boards, judicial, water districts, and more.  

Redistricting is based on the idea of “one person, one vote,” which makes sure that each of our voices can be represented fairly, by creating districts that have the same number of people. Census data that is collected every ten years is used to draw new maps to account for the ways that populations have changed and moved across the states and districts. 

Why is redistricting important?

How district lines are drawn influences who runs for public office and who is elected. Elected representatives make decisions that are important to our lives, from ensuring safe schools to adopting immigration policies. Who lives in a  district can influence whether elected officials feel obligated to respond to a community’s needs. The district boundaries are in place for the next ten years, and their policy impacts can last well beyond that.

Why should I be involved?

Redistricting has been used at times to exclude communities from political power. By fully participating in and monitoring the upcoming redistricting process, underrepresented communities, such as African Americans, Latinos,  Asian Americans, and Native Americans will have the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice and voice their needs and interests. District boundaries are generally drawn once every 10 years, so this process has long-term effects on community representation. 

Who is in charge of redistricting?

In most states, including Minnesota, legislatures are responsible for drawing congressional and state districts maps. Local governments are responsible for districting their own local ward or precinct districts. This means that it is politicians who ultimately draw voting district lines. Increasingly, states and local governments are using some form of commission to carry out redistricting responsibilities to avoid the inherent conflict of interest that exists in having politicians draw their own districts and pick their voters instead of voters picking their electeds. Commissions are smaller groups of people that are often not elected officials. In some places, the process is not always transparent, so it is important to become familiar and pay attention to which process your area uses. Contact your elected officials to get the most updated information.

When does redistricting take place?

Redistricting happens after each census cycle, every 10 years, once census data is released. States and local areas have their own timelines for redrawing districts, based on when they get their census data and when the next set of elections are scheduled. Minnesota’s timeline can be found here. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the US Census Bureau pushed back its data release deadline several months later to July 31, 2021. This change impacted the timeline and process used to draw new maps for the 2021 redistricting cycle in Minnesota. Communities can get ready to engage in the process by organizing now. Getting ready includes learning as much as possible about the redistricting process, reaching out to organizations and groups already working on redistricting like Common Cause MN,  who can help get you ready to inform the official process. Reach out to us now.

TAKE ACTION

Fight for Fair Representation

These maps are ours – and it’s up to us to ensure that this year’s redistricting process centers us, not political parties or monied interests. Contact your representative now to let them know that you demand fair maps.

Call your Representative

Sign our Petition