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