What principle was established in Baker v. Carr?

The principle solidified in Baker v. Carr is often summarized by the phrase "one person, one vote." This landmark Supreme Court case from 1962 addressed the issue of legislative redistricting and established that voting districts must be roughly equal in population. The Court concluded that unequal representation in state legislatures violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

This ruling emphasized the importance of each citizen's vote carrying equal weight, which is foundational in democratic governance. The decision acted as a catalyst for a series of lawsuits aimed at ensuring that electoral districts were appropriately balanced, ultimately influencing how elections are conducted and how districts are drawn.

While options regarding regular elections, decennial redistricting, and nonpartisan elections touch on important aspects of the electoral process, they do not encapsulate the specific legal standard set forth in Baker v. Carr. The case uniquely reinforced the concept of equitable representation within voting districts, which had significant ramifications for electoral reform across the United States.