Every 10 years (the year after every nationwide census), states have to redraw the boundaries for their legislative and congressional districts, in order to make sure the districts have roughly equal amounts of people. The federal government will release the results of the 2010 census in February of next year, so lawmakers are gearing up for the redistricting process. Here are some quick facts on redistricting:

• The number of districts in Arkansas is fixed by law -- 4 congressional districts, 100 state House districts, and 35 state Senate districts.
• Congressional redistricting, which will take place in 2011, is the responsibility of both the state legislature and the four U.S. Representatives to work out. State House and Senate redistricting, meanwhile, is handled by the state Board of Apportionment, which consists of the governor, the secretary of state, and the attorney general.
• The overall trend in Arkansas is that the northwest and central regions are growing in population while the eastern and southern regions are losing people. That means that over time, the northwest and central regions will slowly gain more districts and thus have more political power in the state.
• That means that the 3rd Congressional District (Northwest Arkansas and part of the River Valley) and 2nd Congressional District (central Arkansas) will likely shrink in area, while the 1st Congressional District (eastern Arkansas) and 4th Congressional District (southern Arkansas) will likely expand in area.
• Although nothing is yet decided, here are some possible scenarios in congressional redistricting:
  - Marion and Boone Counties switch from the 3rd Congressional District to the 1st.
  - Sebastian County switches from the 3rd to the 4th.
  - Phillips County switches from the 1st to the 4th.
  - White County switches from the 2nd to the 1st.
• It is likely that the Delta region (southeast) will lose a state Senate seat in 2011, while Benton County (in Northwest Arkansas) will gain one.
• Northwest Arkansas will also probably gain two or three state House seats.
• It is possible that the growing population of Hispanics in Arkansas could allow the drawing of a majority-Hispanic House district in 2011.
• The four fastest-growing counties in Arkansas, which will likely receive more representation in the legislature, are as follows (the number represents the estimated increase in the county's population from 2000 to 2010, though the final numbers have not yet been released):
  - Benton (+47%)
  - Faulkner (+27%)
  - Washington (+26%)
  - Lonoke (+26%)
• The four fastest-shrinking counties in Arkansas, which will likely have less representation in the legislature, are as follows (the number represents the estimated drop in the county's population from 2000 to 2010, though the final numbers have not yet been released):
  - Phillips (-21%)
  - Monroe (-20%)
  - Chicot (-16%)
  - Woodruff (-16%)
• The new legislative districting will not go into effect until the 2012 election.