Ten secrets of redistricting.

• Author: Miller, Steve
• Position: Includes related articles on Census 2000 and redistricting terminology

If you haven't already done something about all these gems of advice, you'd better hurry.

Redistricting is a wonderful mix of politics, law, cartography, demography and computer science. And you may feel that you need the wisdom of Solomon to accomplish it.

Recall the great story of Solomon's wisdom: Two women claim to be the mother of the same baby, so Solomon proposes to cut the baby in two and give each woman half. The first woman says, "Let me think about it." The other says, "Give the baby to her," revealing herself as the true mother.

If the baby had been a legislative district, the two women would have said, "Sure, cut it up," and then fought over the halves. Eventually, they would have sued each other - one in state court, one in federal court.

Even Solomon's wisdom might not be enough to aid you in the decennial redistricting that looms following the 2000 census. By following the 10 nuggets of advice below, however, you might manage to avoid some long nights and major headaches. Redistricting will never be easy or simple, but there are ways to minimize the trauma.

1. Know your mission

   Adopt a mission such as "draw a legislative redistricting plan according to constitutional standards by Dec. 3, 2001." This will help you stay focused on the real business of redistricting - churning out maps. Read the redistricting statute and the state constitution - everyone else will. For example, the statute may authorize you to borrow staff from other state agencies. It may also limit travel reimbursement for committee members after a set number of days.

   Does your mission include keeping the public informed? Citizens are certain to offer input and ask to be involved. Consider putting a site on the World Wide Web to disseminate basic census data, precinct maps, redistricting plans and information about the legislature's redistricting process. As part of knowing your mission, you should understand your history. If you're new to redistricting, it will help to find out what issues emerged in your state during the previous redistricting cycles. History has a way of repeating itself. Issues from the '80s and '90s will almost certainly re-emerge.

2. Make decisions early.

   Computer technology and redistricting go hand in hand. Your state must decide if it will write software locally or purchase an offthe-shelf system. States like New Jersey and Virginia with elections in 2001, should be designing systems right now. Many states will start drawing new districts the day after receiving data from the Census Bureau. You do not want to design and build the airplane as it taxies down the runway. Accomplish as many tasks ahead of time as possible.

   Here are some of the things to do early to make the job easier:

   * Create a large scale map book using census blocks, and include every member's residence.

   * Decide whether to set up public-use computer terminals and, if so, set them up.

   * Print demographic reports of the current districts and voting precincts.

   * Set a cut-off date for changing local voting precincts in your data base.

   * Adopt criteria to govern drawing of all plans to be considered by the committee.

   * Calculate the actual cost of maps for sale to the public.

   * Requisition a large color plotter (for printing maps) and photocopier to be dedicated to redistricting.

   * Start communicating with local officials through informational memos and regional meetings.

   * Work out a process with local officials for getting updated precinct maps that you can digitize.

   * Adopt rules for acceptance of third-party plans.

   * Consult and hire outside legal counsel to assist the legislature if you do not have expertise in house.

3. Plan a timeline.

   Another useful device is a timeline. Analyze your 1990 experience and plan purchases of equipment...