Define redistricting and why it is such a complicated and politicized process?

Answer 1

People (or parties) tend to define an area so that they will get reelected.

Answer 2

Just as the US has a Census every 10 years, to reallocate congressional seats to states.

The States use that census data, to redefine voting districts, based on statewide population shifts.

So you have two reasons for redistricting.

1. a state may lose or add a congressional seat, due to population moving into or out of the state.

2. The population of a state, may shift, from one area of the state to a different area, over 10 years.

Since voting districts have to have approximately the same number of citizens.

States have to change the boundaries of the voting districts.

The majority party in the state legislature, redraws the district boundaries.

Almost always, it is challenged by the minority party.

Each party has several goals during redistricting.

1. Gain as many seats as possible.
2. Protect long held seats.
3. Weaken the other parties hold on long held districts.

They do that, by how they draw the new district lines.

In some cases, they may redraw the district lines, to make sure that there is a solid majority of one party's voters in a district.

Sometimes, they try and move one parties voters into a single district, so that party can only win a single district and not compete in several districts.

A good example would be a large city and its suburbs.

Typically people in city centers vote democrat and the suburbs vote republican.

So the democrats would try and make sure, the city center, was in one or two districts, which would give them an edge in those districts, and the suburbs were included in another district.

The republicans would try and divide the city center, like you cut a pie. Including just a small portion of the city center, along with a larger area of suburbs.

As to give thier candiates the edge.

Generally, anyway you draw the new districts, they will favor one party over the other.

Thats why it is so complicated and politicized.

In the past, there used to be districts, that looked like an impressionist painting, they were so confluted.

Today, the courts generally make the new district boundaries confirm to more normal guidelines.