A media guide to redistricting

The process for redrawing district lines is obscure, technical and varies from state to state. It is often done behind closed doors, far from the public eye. We assume that this is inevitably the exclusive realm of party bosses and savvy operatives-- and that it always has been, and always will be that way. Perhaps. But few decisions made by elected officials have as lasting an impact on the way we are governed. Secretive and unfair redistricting can tilt the terrain on which decisions get made. We all have an obligation to try to crack open the doors of the process. There is a tremendous story to be told, and the media can play a vital role in telling it. We hope this Guide gives the media information and tools to open the doors and bring public awareness and, where needed, scrutiny to a process that is frequently obscure and opaque. The Guide offers a comprehensive yet comprehensible discussion of redistricting issues, information on how redistricting is conducted in each state, and comparison charts of various redistricting methods. Throughout the Guide, we suggest things to look for as you cover the issue.