Floterial district

A floterial district is a legislative district that includes several separate districts that are also independently represented in the legislative body, but whose combined population entitles the area to another seat. It is a technique that a state may be authorized to use to achieve more equal apportionment by population during redistricting.

In common usage, a floterial district is not just a multi-town district, but a multi-town district that "floats" over towns that already elect one or more legislators. For example, a city due more than five representatives but not quite six might elect five representing the city itself, and one more in a floterial district that includes some neighboring towns whose small populations, alone, would not merit even a single representative.

Several U.S. states have used floterial districts for state offices, including Alaska, Idaho, New Hampshire, Tennessee and Texas, but only New Hampshire currently has them.