In 2021, every state in the nation will draw new congressional and legislative districts. This makes 2020 a pivotal year for passing new laws that could curb gerrymandering and ensure that maps are drawn in a fair and transparent way.
As of February 26, lawmakers are considering at least 213 redistricting or census-related bills and resolutions in 33 states, 118 of which have been introduced in recent weeks. Of these:
- 105 proposals would create new redistricting commissions
- 17 proposals would establish new criteria to guide how lines are drawn
- 7 proposals would increase public accountability and transparency in map drawing
- 20 proposals would end prison gerrymandering
The remaining bills cover a number of redistricting and census-related topics, including, but not limited to, proposals to modify judicial redistricting, to prohibit at-large elections at the local level, and to mandate the use of certain computers or software for redistricting.