Fair and Square Redistricting

Fair maps are the foundation of a representative democracy. Gerrymanderers wish to create an unrepresentative legislature. The counter to gerrymandering is a fair map where voter lean across districts matches voter lean in the state as a whole. This redistricting criterion was recently codified in the Ohio State Constitution. https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/laws/ohio-constitution/section?const=11.06 The following article demonstrates how to construct such maps. Also included is a Guide which presents an overview of the approach written for citizens, advocates and members of redistricting commissions, as well as legislators and judges. As more people become aware of approaches such as this, more are likely to ask, “Why aren’t we using procedures like this to build maps where the districts are compact and the maps are fair?”