Census-based redistricting provides new opportunities for AORN's Legislative Grassroots Network - Health Policy Issues - includes contact information for secretaries of state - Directory

AORN Journal,  March, 2002  

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REDISTRICTING: PROCESS AND POLITICS

State legislatures have the responsibility for redistricting. Even if a state has not gained or lost any seats in Congress from the census reapportionment, boundaries for congressional and state legislative districts must be redrawn to achieve balanced population distributions. This is mandated by the landmark "one man, one vote" ruling of the US Supreme Court in 1962, which requires that districts within a state have relatively uniform populations. (7)

Timelines for redistricting vary from state to state. New maps for congressional and legislative districts must be completed in time for a state to administer its general election calendar, yet political infighting often delays redistricting until election events are about to start. The practice of gerrymandering historically is part of the process. Gerrymandering is the politically motivated tactic of drawing district boundaries for partisan advantage. Three general methods of gerrymandering include

* packing boundaries, which are areas that include large numbers of the opposition's supporters grouped into a small number of districts;

* stacking boundaries, which encapsulate as large a number of supporters as possible into irregularly shaped districts; and

* cracking boundaries, where the opposition's supporters are split between a large number of districts. (8)

To diminish gerrymandering, many states have established a special commission to handle the redistricting process under the authority of the state legislature. Those who are unhappy with the results, however, often file lawsuits challenging the legality of new maps, regardless of whether they are determined by commissioners or legislators. Additionally, states covered by the Voting Rights Act must have redistricting plans approved by the US Department of Justice to protect minorities against discrimination. (9) Many final decisions are made by court rulings, which further delays the process.

Web sites for individual secretaries of state are excellent resources for updated information on redistricting. The secretary of state's office is responsible for carrying out a state's comprehensive election procedures. Maps of new legislative and congressional districts, along with a listing of dates pertinent to the 2002 election cycle, can be found on each secretary of state's web site. (See "Government Affairs Toolbox.")

ELECTION 2002: LOOKING AHEAD, STAYING ALERT

At the federal level, the impact of redistricting on Congress is expected to be significant because of the narrow margin of control held by the current majority party. The Washington Post reports that

   over the years, both parties have skillfully used reapportionment to winnow
   the number of truly competitive House seats across the country. But this
   time, the rejiggering has also created a small set of races that could
   determine which party controls the House after the 2002 election. With most
   incumbents nearly unbeatable, moving thousands of voters from one district
   to another often represents a party's  best chance of unseating a (current)
   member. (10)