Redistricting Criteria: The Legal Rules That Shape Districts

As Orange County moves from six to eight commission districts, it is important for residents to understand the legal requirements guiding how new district lines are drawn.

Redistricting must follow both federal and state laws to ensure fairness, transparency and equal representation. Here are the key legal criteria driving the process:

Distribución Equitativa de la Población
Under the U.S. Constitution, each district must contain roughly the same number of residents. This ensures that every person's vote carries equal weight - a principle known as "one person, one vote."

Voting Rights Act Compliance
Section 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act prohibits district lines that dilute the voting power of racial or language minority groups. Districts must be drawn in a way that gives these communities a fair opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.

Contiguidad
By law, each district must be one continuous shape. A district can't be made up of disconnected patches - all parts of the district must touch or connect.

Compactibilidad
While not strictly required by federal law, compactness is often a state-level standard and encourages districts that are not excessively stretched or oddly shaped, helping to guard against gerrymandering.

Respect for Existing Political Boundaries
When possible, redistricting should respect city, county and neighborhood boundaries to maintain the integrity of established communities.

Sin Discriminación
State and federal laws prohibit the use of race as the predominant factor in drawing districts, unless necessary to comply with the Voting Rights Act. Other factors — like partisan advantage or incumbent protection — must also be approached carefully to avoid legal challenges.

Redistricting is about more than drawing lines - it is about protecting democratic values and ensuring fair representation for all. To learn more or participate in upcoming meetings, visit Orange County 2025 Redistricting.