WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Chairwoman and Member of the Senate Rules Committee with oversight over federal elections, introduced the Redistricting Reform Act of 2024 to help end partisan gerrymandering and reform the nation's patchwork redistricting process.
“Partisan gerrymandering undermines our democracy and puts political parties before the American people,” said Klobuchar. “Congress must act to protect the Constitutional principle of ‘one-person, one-vote.’ This legislation would protect this principle by eliminating gerrymandering once and for all so every vote is counted equally.”
“The Redistricting Reform Act of 2024 establishes standardized rules to make sure congressional districts represent communities instead of political parties,” said Butler. “By creating a clear framework for the redistricting process, we help increase the transparency and accountability needed to ensure the voices of citizens are better represented.”
The Redistricting Reform Act of 2024:
- Sets specific criteria that states must follow for congressional redistricting, which include ensuring that districts comply with the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, are drawn to represent communities that share common interests, and are not drawn to favor or disfavor political parties.
- Prevents states from engaging in redistricting until after the next U.S. Census by banning mid-decade redistricting.
- Requires the development and adoption of a congressional redistricting plan to use an open and transparent process that takes into consideration comments from the public.
- Creates judicial remedies if a state fails to enact a final congressional redistricting plan.
As Chairwoman of the Rules Committee, Klobuchar has been a leading advocate for protecting the right to vote, increasing access to the ballot, and safeguarding election workers and the electoral process.
In July 2023, Klobuchar introduced the Freedom to Vote Act, legislation to improve access to the ballot for Americans, advance commonsense federal election standards and campaign finance reforms, and protect our democracy. Butler co-sponsored the Freedom to Vote Act.
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