Ballot propositions or state laws can change which body has authority to draw congressional district maps, transferring that authority between independent redistricting commissions and state legislatures.
October 06, 2025
high
procedural
Explains a mechanism by which redistricting authority can be reassigned within a state.
Redistricting methods, including legislative-controlled map drawing versus independent commissions, can change the partisan composition of electoral districts by altering which voters are included and thereby potentially flip which party holds a seat.
January 01, 2025
high
process
General principle about how different redistricting authorities and map changes affect partisan outcomes.
Some U.S. states use nonpartisan or independent redistricting commissions to draw congressional maps, and legislatures or ballot propositions can be used to alter or temporarily reclaim map-drawing authority from such commissions.
high
policy
Mechanisms for allocating redistricting authority vary by state and can include statutory changes or voter-approved measures.
State legislatures are commonly responsible for drawing U.S. congressional district maps, while some states instead use independent or nonpartisan redistricting commissions to draw those maps.
high
process
Describes the two primary mechanisms used in the United States to create congressional district boundaries.