When states redraw their political districts after each decade’s new U.S. census, they make sure each district has the same population. (Legislative and State Board of Education districts can vary a bit from the perfect number; congressional districts are much more exact.) But having each district match the others in population masks big differences that greatly affect politics and elections.
Every district has the same number of people, but not necessarily the same number of adults; the voting-age populations vary considerably. And not all residents are citizens, cutting further into the number of people eligible to vote in each district. For example, Houston’s Senate District 6, which just elected Democrat Sylvia Garcia, has a population of 812,881, a voting-age population (VAP) of 551,137 and a citizen voting-age population (CVAP) of 372,420. In other words, fewer than half of the people who live in SD-6 are eligible to register to vote. (The numbers get smaller still: Only 18,141 people voted in the special election runoff that put Garcia in office.) In East Texas’ Senate District 3, which Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, represents, the overall population is 843,567, and the CVAP, at 603,385, accounts for well over half of the total.
This map shows how the CVAP in each congressional, House, Senate and SBOE district, respectively, compares with the average district; positive numbers — green on our maps — have greater-than-average CVAPs, while negative numbers — shown in purple — indicate lower-than-average CVAPs.
The Texas Legislative Council built the district-by-district data from five-year American Community Survey data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. View/Download the data here.
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Comments (11)
Roberta Dillania de Geldofinez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
that I don't see the full map
Evan Wyloge
Great map, Ryan. Good stuff. But why stop at pointing this out? Let's open up the discussion to what impact this has on elections and the character of candidates who succeed in districts on the different ends of this spectrum.
David Lee Schnepp via Texas Tribune on Facebook
To study how the German people fall victim to the lies of the N A Z I thugs in the early thirties and watch the public burnings of 40,000 books in a famous Berlin Square - The reality of 'Empty Bookshelves - the Death of thinking. can be compared to the trend of Texas Democracy and its War Against Women. Shame on those who are silent now.
Rob D Wiltzius via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Whether it's blue or purple, it's still a Cancer on the Great Republic of Texas.
Frank Kenisky via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Gerrymandering?
Casey Bennett via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Districting has always been the biggest baddest political negative campaign. You will never ever make every person happy, nor any one political party happy. District 74 may look like a huge portion of the State,,but it covers a very large part of UNINHABITED lands. Everyone would like to do the best job possible, but sometimes they fall short. They are human, and the districts really need to be updated every 4 years or so, regardless of one party or the other. Twenty years ago,,,,,Austin was about much smaller than it is now. That was its big drawing card,,,,State Capital, with less than 400k people,,,,,now the metroplex contains almost 2 million people. I think that the continuing arguments, and court fights over these districts is useless. The constant severe changes are very confusing for legal voters especially those that live 'on the line' in the bigger districts.
Darla Morgan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Gerrymandering to pack minorities and help Republicans remain in power.
Jon Gimble via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Darla this actually has quite the opposite effect & is caused by the voting rights act(s) which largely dictate redistricting policy in Texas.
Hannah Katz
Interesting data. I appears that inner city and border voters actually have more power individually than suburban and rural voters. Tommy Williams is accountable to a lot more voters than Chuy Hinojosa, for example. Each of Chuy's voters has a lot more influence. Attorney General Holder must be proud.
Carolyn Moon via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I would also like to know what it means. The Justice Department said my District 27 is illegal, and it feels that way to me.
Ignacio Trujillo via Texas Tribune on Facebook
and Maverick County ?