Redistricting
Status Report:
Nuts & Bolts By Kimball Brace
September 9, 2011
Election Data Services, Inc.
Who is Election Data Services, Inc.?
Since 1986, we’ve been on your wall.
In 2010/11 you’ll need a larger wall
Who is Election Data Services, Inc.?
Since 1979,
more than half the nation
has been helped by
Election Data Services in
redistricting
Who is Election Data Services, Inc.?
Since 1980, kept track of what voting equipment
is used in every county of the nation
2010
Who is Election Data Services, Inc.?
If it concerns elections,
And it deals with data …
We’re probably involved
Cameras do not make the
pictures,
Photographers do
What does Photography have to do
with Redistricting?
A wise man once said:
“Computers are just a
tool.”
George Meier
Staff Director,
Florida House Redistricting Cmte.
“Software can’t create a
plan,
Humans do”
State Legislatures
Pre-Election 2010
Republican-14
Democrat-27
Split-8
Nonpartisan
2010 Results
State Legislatures
Post-Election 2010
Republican- 25
Democrat-16
Split-6
Undecided/Nonpartisan - 3
Reapportionment vs Redistricting
What’s the difference
• Reapportionment
− Allocation of districts to an area
• US Congressional Districts to states
• Some states use to allocate legislative districts to
counties
• Redistricting
− Crafting of district configurations within an area
• Congressional, state legislative, county council, city
wards, etc.
• Usually happens once a decade
− Unless you’re Tom Delay
Historical Apportionment of U.S. House Seats
Net Gain or Loss Since 1930
Redistricting Factors
• One Person, One Vote – Equal size Districts
− Congressional
− State Legislative
− Local
• Voting Rights Act
− “Fairly reflect minority strength”
• Kitchen sink
−
−
−
−
−
Jurisdiction geography – how to divide
“Community of interest”
Political factors & incumbancy
Compactness
Others
Redistricting Data Cube
Spatial
Tabular
Type of Data
1990 ?
2004
2006
2000
2008
2010
2010
TIGER/Line®
Files
Other
Boundaries
Redistricting
Summary
(PL 94-171).
ACS Files,
Citizenship
Data
Census
Precinct
and
Electoral
District
Boundaries
Election
Returns
and Voting
Statistics
2
0
0
2
E
A
R
L
I
E
R
?
Political
Source of data
© Election Data Services, Inc.
All Numeric Data to Block Level
Geographic Level
County
Precinct
Election Returns
Block Group
Block
Address
Block VAP/
Precinct VAP
Population Data
(PL94-171)
ACS Data
Census Survey
Block VAP/
BG VAP
Precinct
Assignment
Voter Registration
System
Block VAP/
Precinct VAP
The Election Process –
From a data prospective
Total Population
Voting Age Population
Citizen Voting Age Population
Registration
Turnout
Votes for President
Other Statewide Offices
Congressional
State
Legislature
Race Data -- Decision on use
Practical impact
TIGER Migration Impact
Olympic Command for Redistricting Season:
Let the Games Begin.
This will be ________’s fifth political Olympiad since
the Warren Court forced America into the
ideological straightjacket of one-person, one-vote
44 years ago.
Like the first four, it will feature outstanding legislative
warfare, after which the combatants will go to
court and ask a judge who won.
Thank you
Kimball Brace
President
Election Data Services, Inc.
6171 Emerywood Court
Manassas, VA 20112
(703-580-7267 or 202-789-2004)
KBrace@electiondataservices.com or
KBrace@aol.com
www.electiondataservices.com