Redistricting. It’s a term you’ve probably heard a lot recently in the news, on social media, from your local elected officials, and from friends and family. But what exactly is redistricting, and how do you know if you’re impacted?
Even with your home in the same location and your zip code or address unchanged, you can still end up in a different district. This can change which races appear on your ballot.
Registered voters can confirm their current districts with a few official records, which is important to verify ahead of an election. Learn how to tell whether you’ve been included in redistricting and where to find the most reliable information.
How Redistricting Can Affect Your Home and How To Check
What is redistricting, exactly? It’s the change of boundaries used to determine which will be assigned to certain electoral districts. Depending on the changes made during redistricting, your residence may move into a different congressional, state legislative, or local district despite any other changes to the home itself.
That means different measures and candidates will appear on the voter’s ballot. USAGov recommends checking the assigned polling place prior to the day of an election. This should be done regardless if you are in the same or a new district. Some voters might receive mailed updated voter information cards or notices, but voters shouldn’t rely on receiving a notice before checking for themselves.
How To Confirm Your Ballot and Get Help
Your state or local election authority should have an online tool available to confirm your exact district. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission provides links to each state’s election office, including tools for checking registration and finding local election officials. You should definitely check if you’ve moved to a new state.
You’ll need to confirm what your residential address is, and may need to enter some personal information to verify your identity. There you should be able to find your precinct, polling place, and current voting districts. If any information is missing or looks incorrect you can check with your state, county, or municipality’s election offices.
For congressional districts, the U.S. House of Representatives also offers a ZIP code lookup tool.
An official sample ballot offers another way to confirm what voters should expect before Election Day. USAGov explains that states may provide sample ballots online or send them directly to voters. USAGov maintains a directory of state and local election offices for voters who need help confirming registration or voting information.
Verifying those details before Election Day can help prevent unexpected changes to a district, ballot, or polling place.
Sources
U.S. Election Assistance Commission, “Register And Vote in Your State”
USAGov, “State and Local Election Offices”
USAGov, “Find Your Polling Place”
USAGov, “Use Sample Ballots and Voter Guides to Learn About Candidates”
U.S. House of Representatives, “Find Your Representative”
U.S. Census Bureau, “Redistricting Data Program”
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