Why map your community?

Map with community selected

Mapping your community and identifying its shared interests allows public officials to take your community’s concerns into account during redistricing.

What is
redistricting?

video placeholder image

Every ten years, the United States draws new voting districts. District lines decide who votes for which representatives in local, state, and federal elections.

What is gerrymandering?

Districts illustration with pencil

Politicians have been splitting up or packing together communities into voting districts that silence their voices. Mapping your community of interest helps fight gerrymandering.

What is a Community of Interest?

A Community of Interest is a geographic area that shares cultural, historical, or economic interests.

Districts illustration with pencil
Your neighborhood
Districts illustration with pencil
People you want to choose representatives with
Districts illustration with pencil
A local group connected by an interest
NEXT

Redistricting in your state:

See community maps drawn in Louisiana

In Louisiana, maps are drawn by the state Legislature by ordinary statute, and are subject to the Governor's veto.

While Louisiana, like all states, must follow the federal requirements of one person, one vote and the Voting Rights Act, Louisiana’s state laws do not list additional criteria. That being said, Louisiana’s state legislative committees adopted rules in 2011 requiring that districts: 

  • be contiguous 
  • respect political subdivisions

In the redistricting process, your state doesn't yet require consideration of communities of interest (COIs), but citizens can still present their own COIs to the state Legislature to advocate for fair representation. A community of interest is a population that shares cultural, historical, demographic, or economic interests. Communities of interest do not necessarily share the same political viewpoints or support for certain candidates or political parties.

See community maps drawn in Louisiana