Fair and equitable political representation

The U.S. Constitution (Article 1, Section 2) mandates a decennial census to apportion the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the states. Census counts also are used to draw the boundaries of legislative districts and local voting districts, including voting precincts. The Iowa Constitution (Article III, Section 35) requires the General Assembly to establish state legislative districts for both the Senate and the House of representatives by September 1 of the year following the decennial census. The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency is authorized to prepare the state’s Congressional and legislative redistricting plans. Local jurisdictions are authorized to prepare local voting district plans, including supervisor districts, wards, and school director districts, where they exist.