Fair Maps Improving the Redistricting Process to Protect Democracy and Better Represent Voters

The Union of Concerned Scientists' fact sheet advocates for fairer electoral redistricting by prioritizing the representation of Communities of Interest (COIs) and strengthening public participation. It highlights the risks of gerrymandering and polarization, citing North Carolina as an example, and provides a set of 'Election Science Recommendations' for redistricting authorities to implement inclusive input processes, provide open-source mapping tools, and ensure accessibility for language minorities and people with disabilities.

• Unfair redistricting that denies equal representation to Communities of Interest (COIs) can silence their voices at local, state, and federal government levels and threatens science-based policymaking and democracy.
• North Carolina serves as a primary example of gerrymandering, where a new electoral map drawn between 2022 and 2024 created a significant advantage for one party despite nearly evenly divided partisan voter registrations.
• To create fairer maps, redistricting authorities should implement an inclusive input process that includes submissions from COIs and citizen-initiated organizations, public forums, and the provision of open-source map-making software and training to the public.
• Effective public participation in redistricting requires accessibility measures, including outreach to language minorities and people with disabilities, translation services, and the maintenance of searchable public input databases.

APA

Van Theemsche, L. (2024). Fair Maps Improving the Redistricting Process to Protect Democracy and Better Represent Voters. Union of Concerned Scientists. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/Fair_Maps_fact_sheet.pdf

Chicago

Van Theemsche, Lisa. Fair Maps Improving the Redistricting Process to Protect Democracy and Better Represent Voters. Union of Concerned Scientists, 2024. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/Fair_Maps_fact_sheet.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Van Theemsche |first1=Lisa |title=Fair Maps Improving the Redistricting Process to Protect Democracy and Better Represent Voters |publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists |date=September 2024 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/Fair_Maps_fact_sheet.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{vantheemsche2024fair, author = {Van Theemsche, Lisa}, title = {{Fair Maps Improving the Redistricting Process to Protect Democracy and Better Represent Voters}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2024}, month = sep, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/Fair_Maps_fact_sheet.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }