When are the boundaries of legislative districts redrawn?

The boundaries of legislative districts are redrawn after each U.S. Census. This process is known as redistricting, and it occurs to ensure that legislative districts reflect changes in population and demographics as recorded by the census, which takes place every ten years. This adjustment is critical because it helps maintain equal representation within legislative bodies, as districts need to have approximately equal populations to uphold the principle of "one person, one vote."

While some might consider other time frames for redistricting, such as every four years or annually, these do not align with the legal requirements tied to the census. Redistricting is also not triggered by state elections, making it clear that the census serves as the primary catalyst for modifying district boundaries in order to comply with population shifts and changes in community structures.