The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 4, 2025
We’re spending this week going back to the basics of redistricting, including what makes a fair voting map, and what qualifies as gerrymandering. What is redistricting, why is it necessary?
Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution is often called the Enumeration or Census clause. It gives the federal government the task of conducting a census of its residents every 10 years, and gives the states the task of drawing relatively equal congressional districts using that data. As the U.S. population changes or shifts, those congressional districts need to be reapportioned.
That process, when done fairly, is known as redistricting. Fair redistricting allows residents who share “communities of interest” to be grouped in a district. That might include counties, school districts, geographic features like lakes, mountains, or parks, ethnic or racial groups, or other common interests.
When districts are fair, it encourages competition of candidates from both parties. It prompts candidates to work harder to solicit your vote, listen to your needs, and hopefully promote solutions to the challenges that your region faces.
In the early days of our republic, however, politicians realized they could manipulate elections by packing like-minded voters together in a district, or by moving their opposition’s voters out of the district. That’s redistricting gone bad: Gerrymandering. More on that tomorrow.
We have resources and graphics on redistricting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
U.S. Congress – ArtI.S2.C3.1 Enumeration Clause and Apportioning Seats in the House of Representatives
League of Women Voters US – Redistricting
League of Women Voters US – Video – What is Redistricting?
Brennan Center for Justice – The Fight for Fair Maps
American Redistricting Project – Redistricting Process by State
All About Redistricting – Redistricting 101 – Where are the Lines Drawn?
Groups Taking Action:
Represent.Us, League of Women Voters US, Common Cause US, Redistricting Data Hub
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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