Question

Look at this map of an imaginary state that has been redistricted.

Based on this map, what conclusion can someone draw about who was most likely in charge of the redistricting?

Party 1
Party 2
neither party
the federal government

Answer 1

I can’t see the map you’re referring to. Could you upload it or describe how the voters are distributed (how many districts each party would win, and whether district lines are oddly shaped)?

If you want to decide it yourself, look for these clues:

- Count which party would win the most districts. The party that benefits (wins a disproportionate share of seats compared with its share of the vote) is the likely redistricter.
- Look for “packing” and “cracking”:
- Packing: opponents’ voters are concentrated into a few districts that they win by huge margins.
- Cracking: opponents’ voters are split across many districts so they lose narrowly.
- If you see many weirdly shaped districts that pack the other party or crack its voters, the party that gains seats from that arrangement probably drew the map.
- Compactness and respect for natural/community boundaries: extreme noncompact, contorted districts usually indicate partisan gerrymandering by the party in control of redistricting.
- The federal government rarely draws state legislative maps; redistricting is normally done by the state legislature (so the controlling state party is usually responsible).

If you upload the map or tell me how many districts each party would win and whether lines look contorted, I’ll pick the best answer from: Party 1, Party 2, neither party, or the federal government.