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Section 4.9 Solving for Change

Let's return to our guiding question for this module: What makes a “fair” district map? We have learned some mathematical tools to analyze various components of maps: their shapes, the level of partisan advantage, the presence of racially polarized voting, and the concept of outliers to see how a district plan compares to other potential plans. The next step is to put all of these ideas together to create your own district plan and advocate for fair maps in a state!

Subsection 4.9.1 Learn a state's redistricting process.

First, make sure you are aware of how the redistricting process works in a specific state. Here are some key questions:

  • Who draws the lines? (Is it the party in power, independent commission, etc.?) If an independent commission exists, who comprises the group? (How many people? Are they citizens and/or politicians? How are they selected?)

  • Are there additional requirements or emphases in the state, such as limiting the splitting of counties or towns?

  • Are the processes different for congressional and state legislative plans?

  • What is required for a map to pass the state legislature? (Related: What is the current balance of power in the state government?)

  • Does the governor have veto power over district plans?

  • Is there a history of gerrymandering in the state?

Subsection 4.9.2 Use a redistricting mapping program (website) to draw a "fair" map for a state.

Dave's Redistricting 3  3 DistrictR 4 

  • the actual 2020 U.S. Census data

  • tracking population and deviation from ideal while drawing districts

  • viewing demographic information across your districts

  • viewing voting history across your districts

  • checking for contiguity of your districts

  • checking for (and zooming to) any unassigned population areas

  • viewing the existing district plans (congressional and legislative)

  • editing with multiple people (at the same time)

  • exporting to other file types, including .csv and .json

Additional features (as of September 2021) in Dave's Redistricting include:

  • editing district plans at the block level (smallest possible Census unit)

  • computing Polsby-Popper and Reock compactness scores

  • computing the efficiency gap, mean-median difference, and other partisan bias measures

  • creating a scatterplot and regression to look for racially polarized voting

  • comparing metrics across different district plans

Subsection 4.9.3 Learn about ways you can get involved

Many states have opportunities for public input and transparency in their process. This can include electronic portals to submit full or district plans or to identify a community of interest, public hearings on proposed plans, and the ability to legally challenge approved plans. In addition, advocacy groups such as Common Cause 5  and FairVote 6 , along with local groups, can help to amplify and mobilize voices and provide information to the public and media.

ballotpedia.org/State-by-state_redistricting_procedures
redistricting.lls.edu
davesredistricting.org
districtr.org
www.commoncause.org/our-work/gerrymandering-and-representation
www.fairvote.org/redistricting