Brief Creation of Redistricting Commissions

In the majority of states, state legislatures are responsible for reapportionment and redistricting.

And yet, over the last several decades, there has been a slow move toward delegating this responsibility to commissions. This webpage provides the origins for each of the nation’s redistricting commissions that holds primary responsibility for drawing plans.

In 15 states, commissions have primary responsibility for drawing legislative district lines. In ten states, commissions have primary responsibility for drawing congressional lines. The first commission was established in Arkansas in 1956, with two or more states switching each decade.

For legislative redistricting, ten states (representing 11 commissions, because Missouri has separate commissions for the House and Senate) created their commissions through legislative referrals. Four of the five remaining commissions were created through citizens’ initiatives. A commission created by citizens' initiative in Colorado was replaced by a new, legislatively-referred commission in 2018. In all cases, constitutional amendments were required.

For congressional redistricting, seven states created their commissions through legislative referrals, and the other three commissions were created through citizens’ initiatives. Here too, constitutional amendments were required.

Some states maintain advisory commissions or backup commissions that come into play if legislators fail to adopt maps of their own.

[1] Missouri has separate commissions for its state house and senatorial districts.