John Tanner and Jim Cooper Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act

Independent commissions, not state lawmakers, would draw U.S. House maps after the 2030 census — party data off-limits.

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Your U.S. House district would be drawn by an independent commission, not state lawmakers. The change would apply to redistricting after the 2030 census. Each state would appoint an equal number of commission members from its two largest parties. Members could not have held office or worked for a party in the past four years. Lawmakers could approve or reject a commission's map, but they could not amend it. Commissions would have to keep counties, cities, and neighborhoods together where possible. Districts would need near-equal population and compact, connected shapes. Commissions could not look at voting history, party registration, or where sitting members of Congress live. A state could redraw its maps only once per census. A court could still order another round to meet the Constitution or the Voting Rights Act. You could watch every commission meeting. You could also draw and submit your own map. Each state would run a website with census data and mapping tools. Draft maps would go public seven days before reaching the legislature. If a state missed its deadlines, a federal judge would draw the map instead. The Election Assistance Commission would pay states $150,000 for each House seat to cover the work. State and local district lines would not change.