Restoring Electoral Stability to Enhance Trust (RESET) Act of 2025
Summary
The Restoring Electoral Stability to Enhance Trust (RESET) Act of 2025 aims to limit congressional redistricting by states after a decennial census. It amends existing U.S. Code to prevent states from redistricting more than once per census cycle, with exceptions for court-ordered redistricting to comply with the Constitution or the Voting Rights Act, or a state-ordered referendum. The bill explicitly states that it does not affect state and local elections.
Expected Effects
If enacted, the RESET Act would reduce the frequency of redistricting, potentially leading to more stable congressional districts. This could decrease the influence of partisan gerrymandering. However, it might also limit a state's ability to quickly address newly discovered constitutional or Voting Rights Act violations through redistricting.
Potential Benefits
- Reduced Gerrymandering: Limits the ability of states to redraw district lines for partisan advantage.
- Electoral Stability: Provides more consistent representation for voters over the course of a decade.
- Reduced Political Volatility: Could lead to less frequent shifts in the balance of power in Congress.
- Increased Voter Trust: Aims to enhance trust in the electoral process by reducing perceived manipulation of district boundaries.
Potential Disadvantages
- Reduced State Flexibility: Limits a state's ability to respond to unforeseen legal challenges or demographic shifts requiring redistricting.
- Potential Entrenchment: Could entrench existing political power structures, even if they become unfair or unrepresentative over time.
- Limited Responsiveness: Reduces the ability of states to quickly correct errors or address inequities in district maps.
- Increased Litigation: Could lead to more legal challenges over the interpretation and application of the exceptions.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill cites Article I, Section 4, granting Congress power over the time, place, and manner of congressional elections, and Section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment, empowering Congress to enforce Section 2, which concerns apportionment. The constitutionality of limiting state redistricting power is debatable, potentially infringing on states' rights to manage their own elections, as reserved by the Tenth Amendment.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).