Evenwel is a term that refers to a legal case that was heard by the United States Supreme Court in 2016. The case centered around the issue of how legislative districts should be drawn in order to ensure fair representation for all citizens.
At the heart of the case was the question of whether states should be required to draw legislative districts based on total population, including non-citizens and children, or based on the number of eligible voters. The plaintiffs in the case argued that drawing districts based on total population resulted in unequal representation, as districts with a larger number of non-citizens or children would have the same voting power as districts with a larger number of eligible voters.
The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of using total population as the basis for drawing legislative districts. The Court held that the Constitution requires that legislative districts be drawn to ensure equal representation for all residents, not just eligible voters. The decision was seen as a victory for advocates of fair representation and voting rights, as it affirmed the principle that all individuals, regardless of citizenship status, should be counted in the process of drawing legislative districts.
The Evenwel case highlighted the importance of fair and equal representation in the democratic process. By upholding the use of total population as the basis for drawing legislative districts, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the principle that all individuals have a right to be represented in government, regardless of their voting eligibility. The decision in the Evenwel case set an important precedent for future redistricting efforts, ensuring that all residents have a voice in the political process.