# Plain Language Summary: CLEAN Elections Act

This bill would change how congressional districts are drawn across the country by taking that power away from state legislatures and giving it to independent commissions instead. Right now, when states redraw their congressional districts every ten years after the census, politicians in the state legislature typically do the drawing. This bill would require that an independent, nonpartisan commission do the work instead. The commission would need to have equal numbers of members from the two largest political parties in the state, and none of the members could be elected officials. This change would apply starting with the 2020 census redistricting (though that's already happened) and going forward.

The bill also creates a financial incentive for states to do the same thing with their state legislative districts. If a state wants to receive federal money for election administration, it would have to certify that it's using an independent commission to draw state legislative district lines as well. This is a softer requirement than the congressional redistricting mandate—states technically have a choice, but they'd lose federal election funding if they don't comply.

The core idea behind this bill is addressing what's called "gerrymandering," where politicians draw district lines to benefit their own party. By taking the pencil out of politicians' hands and giving it to independent commissions, supporters believe elections would be fairer and districts would better reflect what voters actually want rather than what politicians want. The bill essentially says that the people drawing the maps shouldn't have a dog in the fight—they shouldn't be politicians or party loyalists with something to gain from the outcome.

CLEAN Elections Act

Fitzpatrick, Brian K.

Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform of Elections Act or the CLEAN Elections ActThis bill establishes requirements for nonpartisan redistricting.States must conduct congressional redistricting using a plan developed by a nonpartisan independent redistricting commission, beginning with the 2020 census.A state may not use federal funds provided for election administration purposes unless it certifies to the Election Assistance Commission that it conducts redistricting for its state legislative districts using a plan developed by a nonpartisan independent redistricting commission.