One of the biggest issues before the Legislature happens like clockwork every 10 years: redistricting. If you’re a political junkie, you may want to head down to the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz tonight to see Gerrymandering, a film claiming to expose “the most effective form of manipulating elections short of outright fraud.”
Not having seen it yet, we can’t speak to how effectively the documentary by filmmaker Jeff Reichert does that, but that characterization of what happens during the decennial redrawing of political boundaries according to new Census Department data is not hyperbole. Check out this Thursday’s Chronicle for a rehashing of how moving the lines around put two-thirds of solidly liberal Austin under Republican representation, and what to expect when the Lege takes it up again this session.
The film starts at 8pm tonight, Jan. 24, and will be followed by a panel discussion featuring UT adjunct law professor and redistricting expert Steve Bickerstaff, Linda Curtis of Independent Texans, and journalist Guillermo Garcia.
This article appears in January 21 • 2011.