Legal Definitions - majority-minority district

A majority-minority district is an electoral district, typically for congressional or state legislative elections, where a racial or ethnic minority group constitutes a majority of the voting-eligible population. The creation of such districts is often a strategy to ensure that minority voters have a reasonable opportunity to elect candidates of their choice, particularly in areas where their voting power might otherwise be diluted across multiple districts.

Here are some examples:

• Example 1: Urban Congressional District

  Imagine a large metropolitan area in a state. Historically, the city's diverse population was split across several congressional districts, making it difficult for any single minority group to elect a representative. After a redistricting process, a new congressional district is drawn that encompasses neighborhoods where a specific racial minority group constitutes 60% of the eligible voters.

  Explanation: This district is a majority-minority district because the designated racial minority group forms a majority of the voting population within its boundaries, thereby increasing their ability to elect a candidate who represents their interests in the U.S. Congress.

• Example 2: Rural State Legislative District

  Consider a state with a significant population of Hispanic residents, many of whom live in a cluster of rural counties. During the drawing of state legislative districts, a particular district is created that combines these rural areas, resulting in Hispanic voters making up 55% of the district's electorate.

  Explanation: This new state legislative district is a majority-minority district, specifically designed to empower Hispanic voters in that region to elect a representative who understands and advocates for their community's needs in the state legislature.

• Example 3: County Commissioner District

  In a county with several distinct communities, including a large Native American reservation and surrounding tribal lands, the county commission decides to redraw its electoral districts. One new district is drawn specifically to include the reservation and adjacent areas, making Native Americans the majority of the voting population within that district.

  Explanation: This county commission district becomes a majority-minority district, giving the Native American community a stronger, more unified voice in local government decisions that directly impact their lives and lands.