As the 2024 election draws near, now is a great time to gain a better understanding of redistricting. If you are like me, you may not fully understand what that means – redistricting is the process of drawing electoral district boundaries, which takes place in the United States following the completion of each decennial census to account for population shifts. Redistricting processes vary from state to state, but all states draw new electoral maps either through their state legislature, in redistricting commissions, or through some combination of the two.

Gerrymandering is the act of manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts so that election outcomes favor one party or class. Some states have made efforts to mitigate the possibility of gerrymandering by creating independent commissions to lead redistricting efforts, such as in Arizona and Michigan.

The following books will help you gain a better understanding of these processes, and hopefully make you a more informed voter!