Redistricting commission

A redistricting commission is a body designated to draw electoral district lines. Usually the intent is to avoid gerrymandering by specifying a nonpartisan or bipartisan body to comprise the commission. However, some of these commissions, much like some state boards of election, are set up to give the majority party more seats on the commission; see e.g. the New Jersey Redistricting Commission.

The Campaign Legal Center reports that eleven (11) states currently utilize non-partisan or bi-partisan redistricting commissions composed of non-office-holding citizens. The states include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, and Washington. The Campaign Legal Center also reports that Arkansas and Ohio use redistricting commissions that are composed entirely of elected officials.

In 2008 California voters approved Proposition 11 amending the state's constitution creating a bi-partisan Citizens Redistricting Commission composed of non-office-holding citizens.

Efforts to establish a redistricting commission in Virginia have so far failed.^{[citation needed]}