Redistricting Competition?

[Hope For A New Era]

I'm in!

I'm down.

Any prizes?

Great Honers

The adulation and respect of the ~15 people that have read this thread :/

The prize is getting to accept your accolades

[S019]

I vote for maximizing Trump seats

[Hope For A New Era]

When does this start?

[OBD]

When does this start?

I'll make a more official announcement regarding the states involved tomorrow, but for now feel free to start working on Texas and North Carolina maps that (you believe) maximize Biden districts. (seems to be the consensus rn)

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

I'll try it out, why not

[S019ian Liberal]

PA.

[Lachi]

Hang on, clarification needed, are using the 2010 apportionment, or the forecasted apportionment after 2020?

[OBD]

Hang on, clarification needed, are using the 2010 apportionment, or the forecasted apportionment after 2020?

2010 appointment.

[Former President tack50]

For what is worth, looking around I think Texas might be the most interesting state to do this with, but NC is also a good choice (and arguably a better one because TX creates more lag and is harder to run on DRA)

[lfromnj]

I think we should have one referee and be allowed to keep our maps secret except to the referee,

Basically send your map to the referee before the election and they make a copy of it. If anyone doesn't want to make any maps rn it would be useful to have them as a referee.

[ProgressiveModerate]

Texas would be fun. I could go it a go. What redistricting guidelines do we have to follow?

[OBD]

Okay, so it's now 4 days before the election so probably best to get this show on the road. Based on the poll results, we'll be maximizing Biden districts in North Carolina and Texas! All competitors with the willpower to do so are highly encouraged to make maps of these states. You can also submit additional maps, which will be considered for 'prizes' if more than one person submits maps for that state. I will be the referee - I will submit maps, but they will not be considered for prizes. DM me on Atlas with a link to your map by 4:00 PM PST on Tuesday, and after Election Night feel free to post your map here with #analysis and an image.

Anyway, here are the rules:

Rules
1. Districts will be drawn using 2010 Census numbers. This means that the number of districts drawn will be the current amount (i.e. the 2010 numbers - so 36-district Texas)
2. Districts will have a maximum population deviation of 3500 each. (some leeway may be given for urban districts with large precinct sizes)
3. All districts must be contiguous (this rule might be edited/given some leeway if we choose a state with messy precinct boundaries - like Ohio). Additionally, all districts must be contiguous by land or bridge (no abusing water precincts in coastal states). Road contiguity is encouraged but not required.
4. The DRA compactness score for the map must be over 30.
5. The DRA county splitting score for the map must be over 30.
6. The winner will be whoever draws the most Biden/Trump districts for their candidate. In the event of a tie, the DRA compactness and county splitting scores of each map will be averaged and used to determine the winner. If this is still tied, whichever map has more favorable partisan metrics for the candidate of choice will win.
7. All entries must be submitted to me by the state's poll closing time on November 3. Additionally, an image and description of your map should be posted on this thread, but after Election Night to avoid plagiarism.
8. Once 2020 data is released on DRA, the winner(s) shall be determined.

And these are the 'prizes':

Tom Delay Cup: Awarded to whoever draws the most Biden districts in Texas, while adhering to the above rules.

Bill Barr Cup: Awarded to whoever draws the most Biden districts in North Carolina, while adhering to the above rules.

Elbridge Gerry Cup: Special Contest! Whoever draws the most 2020 Trumpy district in Massachusetts (only rule is contiguity by land or bridge - no compactness, VRA, or splitting requirements, remainder of map required though) with 2010 populations wins!

Crack n'Pack Cup: Whoever wins the most contests in other states (FYI, maxxing Biden districts).

Does this sound good to everyone?

[ProgressiveModerate]

Okay, so it's now 4 days before the election so probably best to get this show on the road. Based on the poll results, we'll be maximizing Biden districts in North Carolina and Texas! All competitors with the willpower to do so are highly encouraged to make maps of these states. You can also submit additional maps, which will be considered for 'prizes' if more than one person submits maps for that state. I will be the referee - I will submit maps, but they will not be considered for prizes. DM me on Atlas with a link to your map by 4:00 PM PST on Tuesday, and after Election Night feel free to post your map here with #analysis and an image.

Anyway, here are the rules:

Rules
1. Districts will be drawn using 2010 Census numbers. This means that the number of districts drawn will be the current amount (i.e. the 2010 numbers - so 36-district Texas)
2. Districts will have a maximum population deviation of 1500 each. (some leeway may be given for urban districts with large precinct sizes)
3. All districts must be contiguous (this rule might be edited/given some leeway if we choose a state with messy precinct boundaries - like Ohio). Additionally, all districts must be contiguous by land or bridge (no abusing water precincts in coastal states). Road contiguity is encouraged but not required.
4. The DRA compactness score for the map must be over 30.
5. The DRA county splitting score for the map must be over 30.
6. The winner will be whoever draws the most Biden/Trump districts for their candidate. In the event of a tie, the DRA compactness and county splitting scores of each map will be averaged and used to determine the winner. If this is still tied, whichever map has more favorable partisan metrics for the candidate of choice will win.
7. All entries must be submitted to me by the state's poll closing time on November 3. Additionally, an image and description of your map should be posted on this thread, but after Election Night to avoid plagiarism.
8. Once 2020 data is released on DRA, the winner(s) shall be determined.

And these are the 'prizes':

Tom Delay Cup: Awarded to whoever draws the most Biden districts in Texas, while adhering to the above rules.

Bill Barr Cup: Awarded to whoever draws the most Biden districts in North Carolina, while adhering to the above rules.

Elbridge Gerry Cup: Special Contest! Whoever draws the most 2020 Trumpy district in Massachusetts (only rule is contiguity by land or bridge - no compactness, VRA, or splitting requirements, remainder of map required though) with 2010 populations wins!

Crack n'Pack Cup: Whoever wins the most contests in other states (FYI, maxxing Biden districts).

Does this sound good to everyone?

Ok I'm in. I'm giving TX a go and I have an idea

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I'm doing NC.

[OBD]

Announcing an edit: population deviation of up to 3,500 is now allowed.

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

Finished NC. On to Texas!

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I apply for the Elbridge Gerry Cup.

[OBD]

Also, if y'all could title the subject of your PMs accordingly, I'd appreciate it a ton! I'm gonna have to wade through a lot on Monday and Tuesday. Btw, I'm probably going to start copying the links I have on Tuesday around 9-11 AM PST, so if you've sent me a link make your edits before then.

Do make as many maps as you can, though. No need to formally enter on this thread or anything.

[OBD]

Reminder that submissions are due late Tuesday in my inbox! Please send to me before then though if possible, as I'm going to start uploading maps early Tuesday.

[OBD]

Here are the submissions I have received and copied thus far:

Texas
- S019
- ProgressiveModerate
- Forumlurker

NC
- Forumlurker
- Blairite
- lfromnj
- tack50
- S019

Massachusetts
- TimTurner

As we only have one MA submission, I'd request any further entrants to submit an NC or TX map. I'm not able to copy maps tonight, but I'll accept any maps that land in my inbox by 4:30 PM PST (North Carolina poll closing time). It's on your honor not to edit it after that time - I won't catch you if you do so, but the all-seeing god OC will.

I haven't reviewed the maps thus far, but if I see a minor contiguity issue or population equality issue I'll probably give the offending person one chance to fix it without altering the map in any other way.

[OBD]

Well this will be interesting.

I'll have results for this when accurate 2020 numbers are up on DRA.

[S019]

Well this will be interesting.

I'll have results for this when accurate 2020 numbers are up on DRA.

Yeah I think my map tried to get 4 D seats out of the RGV, so that obviously won't end well

[Former President tack50]

Thankfully I did not bother to make a TX map lol otherwise I'd have 100% lost

[lfromnj]

Thankfully I did not bother to make a TX map lol otherwise I'd have 100% lost

Would you have gone too aggressive on the RGV im guessing?

[Former President tack50]

Thankfully I did not bother to make a TX map lol otherwise I'd have 100% lost

Would you have gone too aggressive on the RGV im guessing?
[/quote
Nah, probably I'd have gone with D+1 or D+2 districts there; but those almost certainly would have flipped.

The swing was enormous so almost anything in the area probably fails