New Tool Lets Rhode Islanders See The Redistricting Process

PROVIDENCE, RI — A new tool aims to help Rhode Island voters understand the legislative redistricting process more easily. On Friday, Sec. of State Nellie Gorbea launched a new website that compares current maps with proposed ones.

During the redistricting process, legislative districts are redrawn by public officials to reflect changes in population numbers and racial diversity. This process happens once every decade, based on the latest U.S. Census Data.

"As someone who sued the General Assembly during the 2001 redistricting process, I know how important it is to match demographic data to proposed districts," Gorbea said. "Redistricting decisions can greatly affect voter participation. I will always push our government to provide modern resources like this comparison tool to increase transparency and encourage community participation."

So far, the Rhode Island Redistricting Commission has released five proposed maps: three for Senate districts and two for the House of Representatives. All of these maps can be found on the interactive map.