Beginner FAQs

How Can Members of the Public Contribute in the Redistricting Process?

A discussion of how public access can improve redistricting and how the public can contribute to the process.

How Can I Judge Redistricting Plans?

A discussion on how to best judge different district plans.

Why Is Redistricting Difficult?

An examination of the difficulties involved in redistricting.

What Is Gerrymandering?

An explanation of Gerrymandering and its origins.

What Are Some Principles That Are Important in Redistricting?

A list of important redistricting concepts and principles that help redistricters create fair district plans.

How Do I Navigate Redistricting Data?

An explanation of the different data available to redistricters and how they fit into the redistricting process.

How Do I Start Thinking About Redistricting in My Locality?

An introduction to how members of the public can contribute to the redistricting process.

Why Should We Care About Redistricting?

An argument for the importance of redistricting and how public access can improve the process.

What Is Redistricting?

A discussion of what Redistricting is, why it is important, and how to do it. A great starting point for any potential Redistricter.

How Do I Make my Maps Look Nice?

A good mapping software application or GIS (Geographic Information Systems) provides a library of default maps and styles out-of-the-box that allow you to create presentation-ready and professional looking maps. These predefined settings can help you rapidly create a useful map, but if you take a little more time, you can make some minor modifications that uncover the trends …

How Do I Make my Maps Look Nice? Read More »

Why is My Data Package Not Listed in My Plan Manager?

Even after downloading your data package, it is possible that your data  package is not listed in your plan manager. Before redownloading or reinstalling the data, you may want to check the default install location for Caliper data packages. E.g., C:/XX Data 2020 Final where XX is the state abbreviation. If that folder does not …

Why is My Data Package Not Listed in My Plan Manager? Read More »

What Fields Are Included in the 2020 Data?

Maptitude for Redistricting includes all of the 2020 Public Law 94-171 data fields in the 2020 geographic files. Field Description Population Total Persons White Race: White alone Black Race: Black or African American alone AmIndian Race: American Indian and Alaska Native alone Asian Race: Asian alone Hawaiian Race: Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone …

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How can I use a Communities of Interest layer with my plan?

How to use a Communities of Interest layer with your plan

Create a Template from a Plan

How to create a template from a plan backup

How do I find or restore lost windows and toolboxes?

How to find and restore lost windows and toolboxes

Working with Labels on Maptitude for Redistricting Maps

Modifying layer, feature display, and individual labels in a map.    

How do I Lock One or More Columns in Place?

How to lock one or more columns in place.

What Geography is Included with Maptitude for Redistricting?

Data included with Maptitude for Redistricting

Filtering and Sorting Plans

Filtering and sorting plans in Maptitude for Redistricting.

Entering and Changing Redistricting Plan Settings

How to enter and change plan settings

Adding or Removing Districts from A Redistricting Plan

Adding and removing districts

Best Practices

Best practices for Maptitude for Redistricting

Glossary of Redistricting Terms

Glossary of Redistricting Terms

What Fields Are Included in the 2010 Data?

Data fields included with 2010 redistricting data

How Can I Change My Redistricting Tools to Select Features That Are Touching?

How to select features that are touching

Create a Template from a Plan Backup

How to create a template from a plan backup

What is Differential Privacy?

What is differential privacy

How Do I Backup or Restore a Plan?

How do I backup or restore a plan?

Should I Save a Map or Workspace for My Plan?

Should I save a map or workspace for my plan?

Where is My District Layer Stored?

Where is my district layer stored?

What Files are Created with A Redistricting Plan

Files that are created with a redistricting plan

What Method is used in the Ensemble Analysis?

What method is used for the ensemble analysis?

How Do I Get Updated Voting District Boundaries?

How do I get updated voting district boundaries

How Can I Move My Pending Changes Toolbox if the Title Bar is Off Screen?

How Can I Move My Pending Changes Toolbox if the Title Bar is Off Screen?

Getting Started with Maptitude for Redistricting

Getting Started with Maptitude for Redistricting

Redistricting Desktop vs. Maptitude for Online Redistricting Feature By Feature

Maptitude for Redistricting and MORe feature by feature comparison

Redistricting Desktop vs. Maptitude for Online Redistricting

Comparison of Maptitude for Redistricting desktop and Maptitude for Online Redistricting

Importing a Plan Using an Equivalency File

Importing a Plan Using an Equivalency File

When Will I Receive My 2020 Redistricting Data?

2020 Redistricting Data

Maptitude Online Redistricting Technical Specifications, Requirements and Licensing Information

Maptitude Online Redistricting
Technical Specifications, Requirements and Licensing Information

Maptitude for Redistricting Hardware Recommendations

MTR Hardware Recommendation

Where do I find an example of Maptitude for Online Redistricting (MORe)?

Where do I find an example of Maptitude for Online Redistricting (MORe)

How Do I Export a Plan to an Equivalency File?

You can export a redistricting plan at any stage of development and the map features can be from the base layer or any layer that aggregates to features in the base layer. In most cases you will export to blocks. Choose Redistricting>Plan Utilities>Export Plan. Choose the selection of districts to export from the District drop-down …

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Can I create redistricting plans on the Internet or my intranet?

Yes. Maptitude for Online Redistricting (MORe) is a web-based redistricting software designed to draw and report . The is similar to the toolbox in the desktop version, and the user can zoom, pan, and query the map using the mapping tools. The tool can be used in any browser window without the need for the …

Can I create redistricting plans on the Internet or my intranet? Read More »

Can I shade my districts so they stand out on my map?

Maptitude for Redistricting includes a custom file in your redistricting region folder. You can use this file to shade your districts. Right-click on the Districts layer in the Display Manager and choose Make working layer. Click to open the Color Theme Map Wizard. Click Load… Choose the From Settings File radio button. Browse to C:\XX Data 20YY Final …

Can I shade my districts so they stand out on my map? Read More »

Can I Open a Plan of Enacted Districts?

Maptitude for Redistricting includes a library of enacted plans and templates for the geographic area included with your purchase. To get started, click the Libraries tab in the plan manager. In the Libraries tab, click Add. Browse to the location on the C drive where your redistricting data was installed. This is usually named with …

Can I Open a Plan of Enacted Districts? Read More »

Can multiple users share the same geographic file over a network?

Multiple users can share compact geographic files (.cdf extension) over a network in a read-only folder. If the geographic file is a standard geographic file (.dbd extension), you should export it to a compact geographic file using File>Export>Geographic File.

Can I have null values in the control field?

The control field must at least contain 0s (zeros).

Can I use a dummy variable for the control field if I don’t care about control field values?

Can I use a dummy variable for the control field if I don’t care about control field values?

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