End Prison Gerrymandering Act

# End Prison Gerrymandering Act (HR 7375) - Summary **What the Bill Would Do** This bill addresses how imprisoned individuals are counted for the purposes of drawing political districts. Currently, prisoners are typically counted as residents of the prison location when districts are redrawn every 10 years after the census—even though they cannot vote. The End Prison Gerrymandering Act would change this by requiring that incarcerated people be counted at their last known address before imprisonment instead. This aims to prevent prisons (often located in rural, less populated areas) from artificially boosting the political representation of those districts. **Who It Affects and Why It Matters** The bill primarily affects how political power is distributed between districts and communities.

It impacts prison locations, which are concentrated in certain regions, as well as the home communities prisoners come from—typically urban and minority neighborhoods. Supporters argue the current system gives disproportionate political influence to districts with large prisons, while those communities lose representation. Opponents may raise concerns about implementation challenges or dispute whether this is a significant problem. **Current Status** As of now, the bill is in committee and has not advanced further in the legislative process.