Racial Equity Redistricting Principles

On May 5, 2011, OAP released its racial equity redistricting principles to help inform the Minnesota redistricting process and build equitable districts for elections and funding formulas.

Click here for a downloadable version of the principles. PDF 370KB

Following the 2010 Census, Minnesota is undergoing a once-per-decade redistricting process to redraw the congressional districts and legislative districts to reflect changes in the State’s population. Redistricting plays an important role in our state and communities. Using new census numbers, districts are adjusted and redrawn in order to make sure every district has a nearly-equal amount of people. Additionally, using the census numbers and districts, funding formulas are developed for state-money allocation for projects and services.

How districts are drawn has significant effect on outcomes for communities. Districts can be drawn in ways that augment the power of one group or political party and diminish the power of another. They can also be drawn in ways that correct historic disparities and act as a tool for increasing racial equity. For example, redistricting can increase the number of legislators of color to parity and increase the voting power of communities of color, protect a community of interest, and involve diverse communities in the process. Read more.