What key principle was reinforced by the ruling in Baker v. Carr regarding electoral districts?

The ruling in Baker v. Carr reinforced the principle of "one person, one vote," which emphasizes that each individual's vote should carry equal weight in electoral processes. This case, decided by the Supreme Court in 1962, addressed issues of malapportionment in legislative districts in Tennessee. The Court held that the apportionment of districts must be based on population to ensure equitable representation. This landmark decision established that, under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, legislative districts should be drawn to reflect equal population distribution, thus ensuring that every citizen's vote is equally represented in elections.

By establishing this principle, the ruling sought to rectify disparities created by districts that had not been redrawn to reflect demographic changes over time, which often resulted in unequal political power and representation among different communities. The case set a precedent for similar challenges across the country, leading to a more equitable electoral system.