Local Redistricting with Dave’s Redistricting
What does a civic-minded citizen with too much time on his hands do with free time? Well, it’s redistricting time, so draw maps.
When it comes to redistricting everyone seems to focus on Congress, and we often forget that redistricting/reapportionment takes place on almost every level of government. Even county commission districts and even school board member districts have to adjust their boundaries to follow population trends.
This is because the courts have ruled time and time again the equal population is the name of the game in Kansas. All districts no matter the level has to be relatively close in population. In most case law the courts have established that districts have to be within 10% of the ideal equal population.
There are countless ways to draw these maps, and sadly most of the time this process occurs behind closed doors. However, the wonderful volunteers with Dave’s Redistricting have created a FREE and EASY to use platform for everyday people to draw the maps that impact their community. The best part is they’ve recently made updates that make it even easier to draw local maps.
Below you’ll find some of the maps I’ve made recently. Two are examples of how the Neosho County Commission may be reapportioned soon, and one is a plan for a five-seat county commission. All these maps meet the basic legal requirements and could be implemented. Attached is also the current official map for reference.
It’s easy, go give it a shot. Want to draw Kansas’s next congressional map? You can do that. Draw the State Senate? You can do that! This is all about making this confusing complicated process more transparent and understandable. Let me know how you think the map on any level should look, and I love to see what you draw.
