What is the difference between redistricting and gerrymandering

Of the ten states deemed to be most-gerrymandered, Democrats redrew the lines on four states while Republicans redrew the lines on six. In Minnesota, the state legislature has the responsibility for redistricting congressional, legislative and Met Council districts, while county boards are responsible for redistricting county commissioner districts, city councils for city wards and school boards for board member districts.

In Minnesota, the Secretary of State has the power to order corrections to redistricting plans, conduct training on redistricting and adjust election district boundaries in certain cases.

Certain districts still favor particular political parties in parts of Minnesota. For example, the 6 th congressional district has historically voted Republican while the 4 th and 5 th districts will likely vote for Democrats, because of the voting patterns established in those districts over periods of time.

For instance, even if the majority of citizens in a state vote for a Republican for President, the opposite party can retain control or gain seats in Congress depending on how district lines are drawn. So, if certain neighborhoods in a district are predominantly Democratic in the middle of a Republican state, by combining or drawing a district line around those Democratic votes, a district can create a false majority.

Many states have partisan single party redistricting groups depending on which party has the majority in the state. Today, however, a majority of Black, Latino, and Asian Americans live in diverse suburbs. This change has given rise to powerful new multiracial voting coalitions outside cities such as Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston that have won or come close to winning power.

Yet the Supreme Court has not granted these multiracial coalition districts the same legal protections as majority-minority districts, making them a key target for dismantling by partisan map drawers. The For the People Act , a landmark piece of federal democracy reform legislation that has already passed the House, represents a major step toward curbing political gamesmanship in map drawing.

The bill would enhance transparency, strengthen protections for communities of color, and ban partisan gerrymandering in congressional redistricting. With redistricting now beginning in many states, the need for Congress to pass reform legislation is more urgent than ever.

Unless that happens, we risk another decade of racially and politically discriminatory line-drawing. But time is running short. The Census Bureau released data to the states for redistricting on August If new laws are to have the maximum impact, Congress needs to act quickly. Fair representation depends on it. Latinos powered population growth in the last decade, but it remains to be seen whether they get the political representation they deserve.

Explore Our Work. Here are six things to know about partisan gerrymandering and how it impacts our democracy. Gerrymandering is deeply undemocratic.

There are multiple ways to gerrymander. Gerrymandering has a real impact on the balance of power in Congress and many state legislatures. Gerrymandering affects all Americans, but its most significant costs are borne by communities of color.

Gerrymandering is getting worse. Federal reform can help counter gerrymandering — but Congress needs to act soon. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy. Select free newsletters: The Weekender.

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