Redistricting commissions typically have a diverse membership, including people of different political persuasions, ages, races, and occupations. Members are usually selected through a non-partisan process, such as a lottery or an application process.
The goal of redistricting commissions is to create electoral districts that are roughly equal in population and that respect the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits discrimination against minority voters. Redistricting commissions also consider factors such as communities of interest, geographic boundaries, and the competitiveness of elections.
Redistricting commissions are a relatively new phenomenon, but they have become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to address concerns about partisan gerrymandering, the practice of drawing electoral districts in a way that favors one political party over another.