Redistricting in Kansas

What is it? Redistricting in Kansas is the process of creating new districts from which we elect our representatives in Congress, the State Legislature, and local governing bodies (city council, county commission, school board).

Districts define the basic fairness of our governing bodies by making sure each person is represented equally (one person, one vote) and that communities with similar interests have a voice in policymaking.

Districts are redrawn after each US Census that provides updated population figures.

In Kansas, elected officials generally create the district maps. The procedures don’t always require input from the public.

The League’s position is that the best and fairest districts are based on input from the people who reside in them.

Public Hearings

Legislative Redistricting Committees will hold public hearings in these 14 cities: Chanute, Colby, Dodge City, Garden City, Hays, Hutchinson, Kansas City, Lawrence, Leavenworth, Manhattan, Overland Park, Pittsburg, Salina, Wichita

Dates, times, venues and other information is available from the Kansas Legislative Research Department.

The League has ideas about hearings

Resources

Kansas Legislative Briefing Book 2021, Kansas Legislative Research

Proposed guidelines for 2022 redistricting.

Link to current district maps

2021 Redistricting Advisory Group (Legislative Committee)

House Committee on Redistricting

Senate Committee on Redistricting

Historical Resources

2012 Essex v Kobach opinion

2012 Technical Committee Rules

2012 Guidelines and Criteria for Legislative and Congressional Districts

Video Resources

We kicked off the 2022 round of redistricting in Kansas by presenting “Redistricting 101.” This slide presentation, made to the League of Women Voters Topeka-Shawnee County members and community partners in April 2021, reviews the basics of congressional and legislative redistricting in Kansas. Learn about redistricting, why fair maps are the basis for fair votes, and how you can get involved in the process.

Not sure how gerrymandering works? Two words: packing and cracking. Both are used to gerrymander districts to favor one group over another. We see how gerrymanding works in this clever demonstration, Pennies vs. Dimes. This is an excerpt from the documentary Line in the Street by Robert Millman. Posted here with permission.

What are your communities? How do you describe them to decision makers? Then what?

Additional Resources

(Documents will download or open in a new tab.)

Fair Votes Fair Maps

Redistricting in Kansas

The League’s position is that the best and fairest districts are based on input from the people who reside in them.