Redistricting Laws

Redistricting Laws

Here you will find links to sections the Massachusetts General Laws for current district boundaries as well as pertinent links to state and federal laws that govern redistricting.

U.S. Constitution

• US Constitution - Article 1, Sections 2 and 4, the 14th and 26th Amendments

Federal Voting Rights Act

(a) No voting qualification or prerequisite to voting or standard, practice, or procedure shall be imposed or applied by any State or political subdivision in a manner which results in a denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color, or in contravention of the guarantees set forth in section 1973b (f)(2) of this title, as provided in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) A violation of subsection (a) of this section is established if, based on the totality of circumstances, it is shown that the political processes leading to nomination or election in the State or political subdivision are not equally open to participation by members of a class of citizens protected by subsection (a) of this section in that its members have less opportunity than other members of the electorate to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of their choice. The extent to which members of a protected class have been elected to office in the State or political subdivision is one circumstance which may be considered: Provided, That nothing in this section establishes a right to have members of a protected class elected in numbers equal to their proportion in the population.

(42 U.S.C. §§ 1973–1973aa-6)

Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

• Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Article XVI
• Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Article CI

Massachusetts General Laws

• PART I ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
• TITLE VIII ELECTIONS
• CHAPTER 57 CONGRESSIONAL, COUNCILLOR AND SENATORIAL DISTRICTS, AND APPORTIONMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES

• Section 1 Division of state into congressional districts
• Section 2 Division of state into councillor districts
• Section 3 Division of state into senatorial districts
• Section 4 Division of state into representative districts

Massachusetts Session Laws

• Chapter 82 AN ACT ESTABLISHING SENATORIAL DISTRICTS (see Senate, No. S.2563) Approved by the Governor, November 4, 2021
• Chapter 83 AN ACT RELATIVE TO ESTABLISHING REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS IN THE GENERAL COURT (see House, No. H.4217) Approved by the Governor, November 4, 2021
• Chapter 92 AN ACT ESTABLISHING COUNCILLOR DISTRICTS. (see House, No. H.4257) Approved by the Governor, November 22, 2021
• Chapter 93 AN ACT ESTABLISHING CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS (see House, No. H.4256) Approved by the Governor, November 22, 2021