Many states allow public input to make sure district maps are drawn fairly. Check you understanding with this online quiz?
"Redistricting affects whether the nation’s diverse communities are represented in its legislative bodies. How district lines are drawn can keep a community together or split it apart, and can change whether a community has representatives who feel responsible for its concerns. Maps can be manipulated for partisan gain, they can be manipulated to dilute the voice of or discriminate against communities of color." - Brennan Center
This short quiz has twelve questions in the form of digital flashcards. You can go through them at your own speed and test your understanding. This quiz was designed by DemLabs using the Quizlet app and can be freely shared with others to help them understand redistricting.
How to take the redistricting quiz
Each flashcard in this quiz has a term and an explanation which includes maps and images. You can choose to hear the question asked verbally. You can stop the quiz and resume taking it later. The teacher can monitor how many people have taken the quiz and which questions they have the most difficulty with. Click on Flashcards option to take the quiz.
How the quiz was created
Each flashcard is created individually and can be modified at any time. The structure of the quiz can be modified to show a term and ask for the definition or vice versa. The quiz can also include multiple choice questions.
Redistricting resources used
We used a range of resources to create this quiz including:
The Public Mapping Project - How Public Participation Can Revolutionize Redistricting, Micah Altman, Michael P. McDonald
All About Redistricting - Prof. Justin Levitt's Guide To Drawing The Electoral Lines
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) - A bipartisan organization that serves legislators and staff throughout the country. The information provided on their redistricting site includes seminar presentations for states, the current status of redistricting law, and federal issues. Particularly useful is the redistricting glossary which provides understandable definitions of important terms.
Brennan Center for Justice - Provides many redistricting resources including A Citizen’s Guide to Redistricting, “Redistricting 101” page that provides an issue-by-issue look at the importance of redistricting, problems with the current system, and steps citizens can take to address such deficiencies.
Dave's Redistricting (DRA) - Alec Ramsay. They provide an excellent online tutorial on how to create a fair redistricting map with their app.
Dissident Voice - A newsletter dedicated to challenging the distortions and lies of the corporate press and the privileged classes it serves.
American Progress - Drawing Fair Election Districts Instead of Manipulated Maps
Fair Vote - Redistricting encourages manipulation of our elections by allowing incumbent politicians to help partisan allies, hurt political enemies and choose their voters before the voters choose them. The current process is used as a means to further political goals by drawing boundaries to protect incumbents and reduce competition, rather than to ensure equal voting power and fair representation.
Ballotpedia - Provides state-by-state redistricting procedures. Each state has a comprehensive page detailing state procedures, census data, district maps, bill updates, citizen involvement, and lawsuit outcomes.
Gerrymandering explained
More redistricting resources
How gerrymandered is your district?
