Learn About Redistricting

Reapportionment (re·ap·por·tion·ment) is the redistribution of representation in a legislative body, especially the periodic reallotment of U.S. congressional seats according to changes in the census figures as required by the Constitution.

Reapportionment applies to any "local governing authority, including but not limited to any police jury, city or parish council, or school board which is required under the constitution or laws of this state or of the United States to reapportion its voting districts following each decennial census." (La. R.S. 18:1921)


If it is determined that a new plan is needed, the governing body will then meet to discuss possible changes to the voting districts. At this time, some do elect to bring in outside demographers to assist with creating the plan.

When Redistricting Occurs

"Unless a different period of time is specified by the constitution or by statute, the governing authority of each local governing body shall reapportion its voting districts by the end of the year following the year in which the population of this state is reported to the president of the United States for each decennial census." La. R.S. 18:1922

Failure to Reapportion has Penalties

La. R.S. 18:1922 and La. R.S. 18:1923 provide that failure to meet the time for reapportionment by local governing bodies is misfeasance in office and may subject the governing authority to a loss of state revenue sharing funds.

Implementation of Reapportionment Plans by the Secretary of State's Office

Act 623 of the 2016 regular legislative session required each local governing body to transmit to the secretary of state a geographical information system software electronic shapefile or ASCII comma delimited block equivalency import file of its current redistricting plan in effect by January 1, 2017.

The Louisiana secretary of state is responsible for establishing a state voter registration computer system for the registration of voters throughout the state, which contains the election jurisdiction for all offices voted on throughout the state. Redistricting plans are required to be submitted to the Secretary of State's Office by certified mail and to also be sent to the clerk of court and the registrar of voters. In order for an office which is included in a reapportionment or redistricting plan to be included on the ballot for an election, the plan must be received by the secretary of state no later than 5 p.m. on the tenth business day prior to the scheduled opening of the qualifying period for the election.

If a local government utilizes a geographic information system (GIS) software to develop its redistricting plans, they are required to submit an electronic shapefile to the secretary of state within 10 business days of adoption of the redistricting plan. If they are unable to submit an electronic shapefile, they must submit an ASCII comma delimited block equivalency import file which indicates the census block assignments in the redistricting plan.