[EL] Single Resource For Redistricting Mapping Files

[Justin Levitt]

Actually, I should have not just maps, but shape files -- at least for 
congressional districts, for most of the states with complete plans -- 
this weekend, on All About Redistricting 
<http://redistricting.lls.edu>.  It's taken a little more time than I'd 
expected to gather them all, but they're coming.

Justin

On 9/12/2011 9:33 AM, Michael McDonald wrote:
> I read Vince's request as one for shape files, not for district maps.
> Perhaps he wishes to conduct a spatial analysis that is not possible with
> pictures of districts.
>
> There is no central repository of shape files or block equivalency files
> (which could be merged with the census block shape files) that I am aware
> of. Unfortunately, some states do not provide electronic versions of their
> new redistricting plans in a public manner. This is one way by which
> redistricting authorities reduce public scrutiny. Eventually, the states
> will provide their congressional boundaries to the Census Bureau, who will
> release them in an update to the 2010 census -- either as shape files or
> block equivalency files. States will provide state legislative boundaries as
> part of the 2020 Phase 2 data collection, around 2018/19. It may be that the
> Census Bureau will work with the states to collect the new state legislative
> boundaries in advance of Phase 2, as they did this last census. In the
> meantime, for states that do not provide this information, I suggest
> contacting the redistricting contact person listed on the NCSL redistricting
> pages. Even then, I am aware of a couple of states that refuse to provide
> electronic boundary information.
>
> ============
> Dr. Michael P. McDonald
> Associate Professor, George Mason University
> Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
>
>                               Mailing address:
> (o) 703-993-4191             George Mason University
> (f) 703-993-1399             Dept. of Public and International Affairs
> mmcdon at gmu.edu               4400 University Drive - 3F4
> http://elections.gmu.edu     Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
>
> From: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu
> [mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] On Behalf Of Aaron
> Blake
> Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 12:13 PM
> To: Vince Leibowitz
> Cc: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu;
> law-election at department-lists.uci.edu
> Subject: Re: [EL] Single Resource For Redistricting Mapping Files
>
> Daily Kos Elections (formerly the Swing State Project) just posted pretty
> much what you are looking for...
>
> http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/09/1013737/-Mapping-the-New-CDs?via=bl
> og_542760
>
>
> Aaron Blake
> The Washington Post
> The Fix
> www.PostPolitics.com
> blakea at washpost.com
> twitter.com/FixAaron
> 202.503.4669
>
>
>
>
> From:        Vince Leibowitz<vince.leibowitz at gmail.com>
> To:        law-election at department-lists.uci.edu
> Date:        09/12/2011 12:02 PM
> Subject:        [EL] Single Resource For Redistricting Mapping Files
> Sent by:        law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu
> ________________________________________
>
>
>
> Perhaps an odd question for this list, but I'm hoping someone might be able
> to help given the level of involvement among list participants in the
> redistricting process.
>
> Is anyone aware of a centralized repository (perhaps a university project or
> something) of shape files for newly apportioned Congressional districts--at
> least as boundaries are as adopted by Legislatures or redistricting
> commissions, etc., pending any court challenges?
>
> I just spent an hour trying to track down the files for Arkansas's new
> congressional districts and need them for a couple other states that don't
> have them posted online in as easily accessible format as Virginia or some
> other states. If anyone knows of such a repository, please let me know.
>
> If there isn't such a central repository, I might be tempted to create one,
> but I'm not sure what interest there would be in something like that.
>
> Vince Leibowitz
>

-- 
Justin Levitt
Associate Professor of Law
Loyola Law School | Los Angeles
919 Albany St.
Los Angeles, CA  90015
213-736-7417
justin.levitt at lls.edu
ssrn.com/author=698321

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