Redistricting in Harris County: Why Your District Lines Change

Every 10 years, after the U.S. Census, political district boundaries are redrawn to reflect population changes. This affects who represents you at every level — Congress, Texas Legislature, Commissioners Court, City Council, and school boards. The last redistricting used the 2020 Census. The next follows the 2030 Census.

Source: Texas Legislative Council; U.S. Census Bureau

Why it matters: When lines move, your representative can change even if you did not move. A neighborhood split across multiple districts has less political power than one kept whole.

Who draws the lines:

• U.S. Congress — Texas Legislature
• Texas Senate/House — Texas Legislature (or Legislative Redistricting Board)
• Commissioners Court — Commissioners Court itself
• City Council — City Council
• HISD Board — HISD Board

Texas has no independent redistricting commission. The officials who benefit from the maps draw them.

Legal rules: Equal population, Voting Rights Act compliance (cannot dilute minority voting power), contiguity, no racial gerrymandering.

Source: Texas Constitution Art. III; Voting Rights Act

Participate:

• Attend public hearings before new maps are finalized
• Describe your 'community of interest' — the neighborhoods and institutions that tie your area together
• Review proposed maps when published and check whether your community is split
• Contact your representative before maps are drawn

Check your districts:

• City Council: houstontx.gov/council
• Texas Legislature: wrm.capitol.texas.gov
• U.S. Congress: congress.gov/members/find-your-member