The Realities of Redistricting: Following the Rules and Limiting Gerrymandering in State Legislative Redistricting

“This book fills a substantial hole in the redistricting literature. First, Winburn analyzes state legislative redistricting, an understudied arena. Second, not only do we find a detailed account of redistricting-across a variety of states with different rules, political contexts, and partisan objectives-but we are exposed to perhaps the most political process from beginning to end, starting with intentions and concluding with electoral consequences. It is an often stated refrain that rules matter and this work demonstrates convincingly that state-imposed constraints generally limit the excesses of those who would manipulate maps for partisan gain.” ―Seth C. McKee

“Jonathan Winburn has crafted an accessible and important book about a complex and controversial topic-redistricting as it is practiced in the United States. The Realities of Redistricting convincingly uses well-crafted case studies and sophisticated analysis to illuminate the lessons of the most-recent remap. Winburn directs us to important questions about the legal and political environment that governs redistricting, and discusses the prospects and consequences for reform of a system that has become needlessly reliant on the judiciary to fix its failings.” ―Ronald K. Gaddie, professor of political science, University of Oklahoma