shades fills you in

Redistricting -- Redrawing Districts for Congress and State Legislatures Every 10 Years -- Is in Full Swing Following the 2020 Census

Redrawing district maps allows partisans within each state to “gerrymander” districts to give themselves an advantage, explains Vox

So How Did Redistricting Affect the 2022 Midterms? NPR Reports That It Helped Republicans Pretty Hugely, Both in Republican-Controlled States and Dem States That Passed Reforms Limiting Redistricting

USA Today thinks more states should adopt nonpartisan, independent redistricting commissions to redraw the maps

The WSJ Doesn’t Like That Proposal: Partisan Politics Will Always Reign, Including With These “Independent” Redistricting Commissions

But an LA Times Op says that’s not true in California, at least. Its Citizen Redistricting Commission draws competitive districts that cost Dems congressional seats

The NYT says the real problem with this round of redistricting is that it killed a lot of competitive districts. This will make Congress even more polarized because members come from hyper-partisan districts that force them to the extremes

The Brennan Center points to a more basic problem: Gerrymandering is undemocratic. Skilled map drawers can almost guarantee outcomes, robbing voters of their right to choose elected leaders

With Federal Courts Unable to Police Partisan Gerrymandering, The Hill Says State Supreme Courts Are More Important Than Ever

And The NYT reports that the Supreme Court may back away from policing racial gerrymanders as well. In an early February decision, it said Alabama’s new map can remain in place for now, even though a lower court ruled the map diluted the power of Black voters

The Supreme Court also agreed to hear a case challenging whether a state court can strike down election laws -- including congressional maps -- passed by the legislature

Check out the Gerrymandering Game from The NYT!