1. Megan Thomas Districting, representation and prisons

2. Agenda  General overview of redistricting  Nature of representation  Focus on issue of census and prison populations  Possible future issues

3. General Overview  Fixed number of House seats to apportion  Based on decennial census  Each state legislature determines specific apportionment but bound by count of census

4. Nature of Representation  Direct Represented by someone for whom the voter voted  Indirect Representation by someone for whom a person did not vote  Virtual Representation by someone in a different geographic district but with similar views.

5. US Census Residence Rules “USUAL RESIDENCE” The place where the person lives and sleeps most of the time Exceptions include:  Boarding school students  College students counted as living with parents  Homeless counted “where they are staying on Census Day”

6. Usual Residence (cont) People who can “choose” their usual residence  Religious orders  Migrant farm workers  Patients and newborns in hospital  Staff of residential treatment facilities People who cannot “choose” their usual residence  Nursing home residents  Children in foster homes or orphanages  Patients in long-term care facilities (mental health facilities, group homes, etc.)  Prisoners

8. Case Study of Ohio  Blacks represent 11.5% of total population but 50.1% of prison population  Average House District Population = 114,678

10. In Minnesota Counties & % of Black Population in Prison  Carlton 81%  Pine71%  Sherburne55%  Swift95%  Rice53%  Waseca68%

11. Minnesota (continued)  House district population average is 36,713  2004 state prison population = 8,333  Federal Prisoners = 3,779 (as of last Thursday)  Total of 12,112 prisoners

12. Urban Sprawl - Stillwater Built in 1914 Formerly remote and rural Now “exurban” Northstar Line

13. Effect on Political Trends Prison Population Growth in Minnesota

14. Percentage change in DFL/RP in House DemocratRepublican 19957163 19977064 1999 6371 2001 6569 20035381 20056668

15. Solutions Sporadic legislation at state levels to readjust reports of census 2000 Legislation by U.S. Mark Green to count prisoners in their “home” area.