Redistribution (election)
Encyclopedia
Redistribution called redistricting
in the United States, is the process of changing of political border
s. This is a form of boundary delimitation that changes electoral district
(constituency) boundaries, usually in response to periodic census
results that cause malportionment of representation. This takes place by law or constitution
at least every decade in most representative democracy
systems using first-past-the-post
or similar electoral systems to prevent geographic malapportionment.
, redistributions are carried out by independent and non-partisan commissioners in the Commonwealth
and each state or territory. The various electoral acts require the population of each seat to be equal with certain strictly limited variations.
and to councils and local authorities
are by single transferable vote
(STV), using geographic constituencies which return three or more representatives, the number being proportional to population. Boundary revisions may involve changing the number of constituencies, reapportioning
the number of representatives returned from them, or adjusting their borders. For example, the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005
replaced the five-seat Meath constituency with two three-seat constituencies, Meath East and Meath West, both of which also acquired territory previously in other constituencies.
Redistribution is done by the Oireachtas
acting on the advice of the Constituency Commission
, an independent body established by the 1997 Electoral Act. Redistribution prior to 1977 was done without independent input and subject to the partisan concerns of the government of the day.
.
, four Boundary Commissions (one each for England
, Scotland
, Wales
and Northern Ireland
) are responsible for reviewing the boundaries of Parliamentary constituencies, within guidelines set by Parliament.
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
in the United States, is the process of changing of political border
Border
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
s. This is a form of boundary delimitation that changes electoral district
Electoral district
An electoral district is a distinct territorial subdivision for holding a separate election for one or more seats in a legislative body...
(constituency) boundaries, usually in response to periodic census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
results that cause malportionment of representation. This takes place by law or constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
at least every decade in most representative democracy
Representative democracy
Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to autocracy and direct democracy...
systems using first-past-the-post
First-past-the-post
First-past-the-post voting refers to an election won by the candidate with the most votes. The winning potato candidate does not necessarily receive an absolute majority of all votes cast.-Overview:...
or similar electoral systems to prevent geographic malapportionment.
Australia
In AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, redistributions are carried out by independent and non-partisan commissioners in the Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
and each state or territory. The various electoral acts require the population of each seat to be equal with certain strictly limited variations.
Ireland
Elections to Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
and to councils and local authorities
Local government in the Republic of Ireland
Local government functions in the Republic of Ireland are mostly exercised by thirty-four local authorities, termed county or city councils, which cover the entire territory of the state. The area under the jurisdiction of each of these authorities corresponds to the area of each of the 34 LAU I...
are by single transferable vote
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
(STV), using geographic constituencies which return three or more representatives, the number being proportional to population. Boundary revisions may involve changing the number of constituencies, reapportioning
Apportionment (politics)
Apportionment is the process of allocating political power among a set of principles . In most representative governments, political power has most recently been apportioned among constituencies based on population, but there is a long history of different approaches.The United States Constitution,...
the number of representatives returned from them, or adjusting their borders. For example, the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005
Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005
The Electoral Act 2005 is a law of the Republic of Ireland which provided for parliamentary constituencies for the 30th Dáil Éireann. The 30th Dáil was elected at the 2007 general election on 24 May 2007....
replaced the five-seat Meath constituency with two three-seat constituencies, Meath East and Meath West, both of which also acquired territory previously in other constituencies.
Redistribution is done by the Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
acting on the advice of the Constituency Commission
Constituency Commission
The Constituency Commission is an independent statutory body in Ireland, whose remit is to make a report in relation to the constituencies for the election of members to Dáil Éireann and of members to the European Parliament from Ireland...
, an independent body established by the 1997 Electoral Act. Redistribution prior to 1977 was done without independent input and subject to the partisan concerns of the government of the day.
South Africa
In South Africa, redistricting is carried out by the Municipal Demarcation BoardMunicipal Demarcation Board
The Municipal Demarcation Board is an independent authority responsible for delimiting the boundaries of South African districts and municipalities and the boundaries of the electoral wards within those municipalities.- General :...
.
United Kingdom
In the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, four Boundary Commissions (one each for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
) are responsible for reviewing the boundaries of Parliamentary constituencies, within guidelines set by Parliament.
United States
In the United States, each state has its own standards for creating Congressional and legislative districts.External links
- A guide to Boundary Delimitation a series of articles from the ACE Project
- Reapportionment and Redistricting in the U.S. — from the ACE Project
- Boundary Delimitation in the Legal Framework of Elections — from the International IDEA publication International Electoral Standards: Guidelines for reviewing the legal framework of elections
- Redistribution Overview from the Australian Electoral CommissionAustralian Electoral CommissionThe Australian Electoral Commission, or the AEC, is the federal government agency in charge of organising and supervising federal elections and referendums. State and local government elections are overseen by the Electoral Commission in each state and territory.The Australian Electoral Commission...
- U.S. House of Representatives — District apportionment 1790 to 2000