Colorado
Activities to Understand Redistricting
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Review population trends with Coloradans On the Move, an interactive demonstration of population movement in the state over three time periods.
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Discuss how to prioritize redistricting criteria using Flashes of Insight cards or an online game.
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Local Redistricting in Colorado: Laws and Criteria (background)
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More States Move to Nonpartisan Redistricting to Limit Gerrymandering, Jessika Shipley, Colorado Legislative Council Staff, Here and Now, March 13, 2020
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Electoral Redistricting 101: A panel discussion about redistricting in the state of Colorado and the city of Colorado Springs
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Sponsored by the College of Letters, Arts & Sciences and the Center for the Study of Government and the Individual at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs
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Describe and map your community with online tools from Representable.org to understand what issues are important in your neighborhood and region. Use both written and geographic descriptions to explain your community.
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Practice using geospatial technology tools in preparation for drawing sample electoral district lines with accessible, step-by-step instructions.
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What Is a Gerrymander? Esri GeoInquiries for Government
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Colorado ArcGIS Online Redistricting Exercise (2010 census data)
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Draw electoral districts with 2020 Census data using open-source geospatial technology tools.
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Explore Districtr and District Builder.
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Examine the "Notable Maps" detailed in Dave's Redistricting App to investigate different approaches to drawing electoral district lines.
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Check here to see approaches to drawing the Colorado Congressional District map.
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Analyze redistricting maps, including any maps you created, the existing approved state maps, and various proposed maps in Dave's Redistricting App.
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Read In re Colo. Indep. Cong. Redistricting Comm'n, Colorado Supreme Court, November 1, 2021
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Evaluate the fairness of electoral district maps using PlanScore, from the Campaign Legal Center.
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Explore the partisan lean data from FiveThirtyEight to consider which party might benefit from a particular map.
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Investigate the Redistricting Report Card, from the Princeton Gerrymandering Project.
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Learn about issues in your community that are affected by people who represent you at the local, state, and national levels.
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Who else do you vote with? Who are your elected representatives? How did the lines change from the previous districts? How do your city, county, school board, state, and congressional districts fit together? Did your districts grow or shrink in area? How would you describe your districts (competitive, gerrymandered, representative)?
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Recall the information you identified while describing your community. What else do you need to consider when drawing districts? What watershed do you live in? What school districts serve your area? What issues are decided by state legislatures and local elected bodies that you care about?
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County and municipal jurisdictions are also important to monitor.
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What suggestions do you have for the people who will draw the lines in 2030?
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Locations hosting National Geographic's Giant Map of Colorado
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A User's Guide to Giant Floor Maps: A Colorado Case Study, Rebecca Theobald, The Geography Teacher, Volume 18, 2021, Issue 1, pages 55-72
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Watch students on this video and learn about materials, logistics, and lessons for state giant maps.
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Organizations and Resources
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Ballotpedia (website with overview and data)
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Colorado Census Data (website)
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Colorado Independent Redistricting Commission (official website)
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Colorado Information Marketplace (FSCPE)
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Colorado State Demography Office (website)
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Peak Progress Quality of Life Indicators, Pikes Peak United Way, October 2022 (data to support describing communities)
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League of Women Voters of Colorado (website)
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Colorado's Innovative and Stellar Election System (information sheet and report - available in Spanish)
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PERSPECTIVES
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Don't Blame Redistricting for Blue Wave | IN RESPONSE
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Colorado Redistricting With Geographers: Fair Maps and Community Engagement (panel discussion)
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American Association of Geographers, Redistricting Panel Series, What can geographers do?
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Accessible to the public, but requires you to sign in
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Overviews of Redistricting in Colorado
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Eighth Congressional District, Colorado Matters from Colorado Public Radio
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Diving into Colorado's newest Congressional District, April 1, 2022
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Colorado's new Congressional District, April 4, 2022
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Purplish, Colorado Public Radio's Politics Podcast
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Remapping Colorado, The Colorado Sun
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A Look At Colorado's Independent Redistricting Commission, The Takeaway, September 21, 2021
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Thy Vo, The Colorado Sun, December 24, 2021
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Julia Jackson and Rebecca Theobald, History Colorado, September 20, 2021
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Here are the themes from meetings across Colorado on the state's new congressional, legislative maps
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Sandra Fish and Thy Vo, The Colorado Sun, September 3, 2021
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Remapping Colorado // Census data comes a few days early and the week ahead in redistricting
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The Colorado Sun, August 9, 2021
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Choice Cuts: How competing redistricting requirements will shape Colorado's congressional map
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Evan Wyloge, The Gazette, June 13, 2021
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Want to better understand Colorado's redistricting process? Make your own map.
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Moe Clark, Colorado Newsline, April 9, 2021
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Colorado Independent Redistricting Commission
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Thy Vo and Sandra Fish, The Colorado Sun, November 10, 2021
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Colorado won with new redistricting commissions
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Mario Nicolais, The Colorado Sun, October 24, 2021
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How other states draw their political districts
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Loretta Boniti, In Spectrum North Carolina, August 29, 2021
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State political maps are being redrawn with the help of expert alumna
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Clint Talbot, Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine, July 22, 2021
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GeoCivics Presentation to Colorado Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission
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Meeting Materials, June 25, 2021
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Fair Districting in Colorado: Where We Are, Where We Are Going, and How We Can Help
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League of Women Voters of Colorado, April 28, 2021
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Discussion of Public Input: Esri Webinar "Delivering a Modern Redistricting Solution"
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See Jessika Shipley's observations at 35:50
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