Technology helps explain redistrict

Three IU campuses are offering public access to computers with redistricting software. The powerful program gives users the ability to isolate census data based on
geography.

Students, faculty and staff can go to the second floor of the Herman B Wells Library East Tower to use the autoBound software, said Lou Malcomb, head of government information and Kent Cooper services at the Wells Library.

“I hope students and faculty will take advantage of this because it is right there and available to look at how apportionment is done,” she said. “It is an exciting project. There is a learning curve, and people can take a look at how it is done and that is really
exciting.”

People can redraw district lines based on county boundaries, voting lines or census blocks, Malcomb said.

“You want to be able to vote in an area that represents you and you don’t want it to be disproportionately broken down,” she said.

The software became available to the public March 24 and will remain available at least through April.

“We will more than likely just keep it running,” Malcomb said.

The Indiana General Assembly decided to give IU the software, Malcomb said.

“My understanding is that IU was given the software because it allowed it to be distributed across the state,” she said.