How are voting districts determined?

In North Carolina, the way voting districts are determined is by a process known as redistricting. Redistricting is when the General Assembly, which is the state legislature, redraws the electoral boundaries of congressional and state legislative districts within the state. The process of redistricting starts every 10 years following the US Census. The census data is used to determine if any population shifts have occurred and if the current districts accurately reflect these shifts. After taking into account the population data, the General Assembly creates a redistricting plan and submits it to the federal Department of Justice to make sure the redistricting plan does not violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Once the plan is approved, it can be enforced for the next 10 years. During redistricting, the General Assembly must ensure the districts are as equal as possible in population size and that the districts do not discriminate against any racial groups. Ultimately, the General Assembly is responsible for creating the districts and determining where the boundaries of the districts are. The redistricting process is used to make sure each district accurately reflects the population shifts of the state and that everyone’s voting rights are being protected.

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