Resources
Redistricting - Q & A (2010 resource): By law, the U.S. Census Bureau must provide population counts to the states within one year of Census Day (April 1 every 10 years). States then engage in a time-consuming redistricting process to redraw election districts before the next election. Typically federal and statewide districts are redrawn first, then local election districts like county commissions and school boards follow.
Stacking, Cracking and Packing (2010 video): Hear the ACLU's Laughlin McDonald talk about how politicians use "gerrymandering" to dilute minority votes.
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Redistricting But Were Afraid To Ask (2010 resource): This is the second edition of our pamphlet which attempts to answer some of the questions most frequently asked about redistricting. The law in the voting area is always evolving and different courts often interpret the same laws differently. If you have a specific question about redistricting or a problem not adequately covered in this pamphlet, you should seek legal advice.
The Looming 2010 Census: A Proposed Judicially Manageable Standard And Other Reform Options For Partisan Gerrymandering (2009 resource): Gerrymandering hinders voters from protecting their rights and voicing their interests through their votes, and the coming 2010 census and attendant redistricting underscore the need for a consistently applied standard for claims of partisan gerrymandering. Redistricting plans have withstood legal challenges because courts have been unable to interpret the conflicting Supreme Court rulings on partisan gerrymandering claims. Nothing in the Constitution expressly prohibits gerrymandering, and until Baker v. Carr, the Supreme Court had treated claims of unfair districting as nonjusticiable. This article describes the Court's decisions in Baker and in Davis v. Bandemer, in which the Supreme Court finally held partisan gerrymandering claims to be justiciable.
Bartlett v. Strickland - ACLU Amicus Brief (2008 resource)