Redistricting and the Census Justin Levitt July 16, 2009

Downtown Minneapolis

Is this a good district?

Is this a good district? You can’t know if a district is “good,” unless you know what it’s trying to achieve

Key redistricting dates April 1, 2010 ― December 31, 2010 ― January 10, 2011 ― April 1, 2011 ― End of session 2011 ― Census Day Census count to President Apportionment to U.S. House Redistricting data to states Most redistricting complete

Other redistricting institutions State legislative districts Congressional districts Advisory Backup Primary control in the legislature Primary control outside legislature

The Voting Rights Act and beyond

2000 population in hard-to-count areas Source: Election Data Services

2000 Denver hard-to-count areas Source: Community Research Institute, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, Grand Valley State U.

Mapping community boundaries