Addressing Redistricting Challenges in the U.S.

The redistricting process in 2026 highlights the need for lasting reform. While nonpartisan redistricting commissions are seen as a necessary step, they are not enough. The urgency is evident, especially with the reduction of competitive U.S. House districts to around 22, which is less than 5%. This decline heightens polarization and diminishes compromise.

Currently, primary competitions favor extreme candidates, worsening divisiveness. The Supreme Court has limited legal checks on partisan and racial gerrymandering. As a result, restoring fair and representative elections is increasingly challenging.

Nonpartisan Commissions: A Limited Fix

Some states have implemented nonpartisan commissions for redistricting, either as primary drafters or in advisory roles. While improvements over prior methods exist, results remain mixed. Issues of partisanship and bias persist, as seen through court interventions in some cases. Factors such as demographic sorting also complicate the process, where Democrats and minorities tend to cluster in urban areas, while Republicans cluster elsewhere.

Reconsidering District Drawing

One potential solution lies in reducing or eliminating district drawing. Shifting from single-member districts to proportional representation could alleviate issues. In winner-takes-all systems, a slim majority gains complete control, marginalizing others. Proportional representation, used globally, offers more equitable outcomes, with minority groups gaining representation proportionate to their vote share.

Ranked choice voting is one way to achieve this in the U.S. It allows voters to rank candidates and ensures more balanced representation. Cities like New York and San Francisco, as well as states like Maine and Alaska, have implemented it. The single transferable vote, used in cities such as Minneapolis and Portland, also accomplishes proportional representation by redistributing votes until all seats are filled, ensuring fairer outcomes for diverse groups.

The Fair Representation Act

To bring proportional representation to Congress, the Fair Representation Act proposes using single transferable vote elections. In states with up to five House seats, elections would be conducted at-large, eliminating districts and gerrymandering. For states with more than five seats, multimember districts would be drawn by nonpartisan commissions, with each electing between three and five members.

This method reduces opportunities for gerrymandering and provides fairer representation for both major parties, opening doors for third-party candidates and increasing voter participation. The Act could fundamentally change the balance, supporting Democrats in Republican strongholds and vice versa.

Overall, to navigate future challenges in redistricting, reforms such as moving beyond single-member districts should be prioritized. If Democrats regain control of Congress, advancing these reforms could prove beneficial for all parties and the electorate.

Steven Mulroy, an expert in election law, underscores these points. With his background in voting rights and as a district attorney, he advocates for unskewing the system for fairer elections. © 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved.