Redistricting |

Traditionally, state legislatures have been responsible for redistricting for state legislative and congressional districts. Since the landmark Supreme Court decisions of the 1960s that established the one-person, one-vote principle, a number of states have shifted redistricting of state legislative district lines from the legislature to a board or commission. There are pros and cons to removing the process from the traditional legislative process to a commission. Reformers often mistakenly assume that commissions will be less partisan than legislatures when conducting redistricting but that depends largely on the design of the board or commission.

13 states have a commission with primary responsibility for drawing a plan for state legislative districts. 5 states have an advisory commission that may assist the legislature with drawing the district lines and 5 states have a backup commission that will make the decision if the legislature is unable to agree.
NCSL – Redistricting Commissions: State Legislative Plans

Problem:
A suit challenging an adopted redistricting plan may be brought at any time under the federal or state constitution or federal law. Before 2013, Texas and certain other states were required to obtain federal pre clearance of any redistricting plans before they could be implemented. In 2013, the applicable provision of the federal Voting Rights Act was held invalid by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Summary of the State Redistricting Process

Texas v. United States – Pre clearance Lawsuit

Solution(s):

Create a primary non-partisan redistricting commission that could have the responsibility of redistricting for legislative bodies

Leave the redistricting process as it currently is

Texas Constitution
Code – Texas Constitution
Article – 3 Legislative Department
Section – 28 Time for Apportionment; Apportionment by Legislative Redistricting Board

Think Progress – Republican maps struck down as unconstitutional partisan gerrymander

Official Page – Texas Redistricting

Texas Secretary of State – Census and Redistricting FAQ

My San Antonio – A Texas way revealed on redistricting

League of Women Voters Texas – Redistricting

Ballotpedia – Redistricting in Texas

Politico – Supreme Court upholds Arizona redistricting commission

Center for American Progress – Should Millennials Rally Behind Nonpartisan Redistricting?

UC Irvine Law Review – Redistricting Commissions in the Western United States

PEW – Amid Court Fights, Some States Consider Redistricting Commissions

Common Cause – The State of Redistricting

NPR – Supreme Court Backs Arizona’s Redistricting Commission Targeting Gridlock