Next year, elected officials at all levels of government will be feverishly focused on picking their voters before their voters pick their officials in the next election. Yes, redistricting is just a few months away.

But there’s a better gerrymandering going on out there, in states across the nation. Jeff Reichert’s groundbreaking film Gerrymandering opened nationally earlier this month and has picked up reviewed in major newspapers like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Washington Post and magazines such as Entertainment and Variety.

This weekend, Gerrymandering comes to Washington D. C.’s brand-new West End Cinema. Director Reichert will speak after performances on Friday and Saturday; he will be joined by FairVote executive director Rob Richie after the 7:20 pm showing on Saturday – Richie appears in the film, speaking about getting outside the redistricting box through moving toward proportional voting systems.

FairVote also spotlights efforts to reform redistricting. This week, FairVote legal intern Brian Bennett, published two valuable posts at Fairvote.org pertaining to congressional and state reform efforts.

One is an overview of congressional redistricting reform legislation in the current Congress. The second profiles the November 2nd ballot measures on redistricting reform two of our largest states, California and Florida.
Stayed tuned!

Jo McKeegan, Democracy Fellow at FairVote

One week from today Gerrymandering will be in select theaters nationwide. (On 10/12 we're doing a special one-night event at a number of theaters around the country - check here for details.) The reviews are starting to roll in and they're running the gamut from "boring" to "riveting," so we'll see how it goes.

At the tail end of two weeks of travel, I'm a little too tired to put together coherent thoughts about the trip and the state of things, so I've pasted below some videos I shot along the way with my phone (using an iPhone to shoot is really much harder than I'd imagined!). Interspersed are viewer comments from California where the Yes On 20/No on 27 campaign has mailed hundreds of thousands of copies of the film directly to voters statewide. More on that next week.

Happy Weekend.

I received a DVD of your film from you in the mail. It distills everything that I have been worrying about for years. I am happy to see these issues addressed and brought to light. At the same time I am saddened and disgusted over the current situation in our country. It is time for radical change.

Thanks for making this film. Probably one of the most patriotic acts ever to occur off the battlefield.

Though I hadn't requested it, I received the excellent DVD in the mail. After watching it took it to my daughter's house. I didn't have the key to her place that day, so left it on her porch. Someone stole it: politically conscious thieves in her neighborhood, I guess. I'd wanted her to see it and then share it with others as well. Any chance of getting another copy?

Please? None of us have a computer that's fast enough to watch it online.

Please email me and I'll respond with my mailing address.

Thanks so much!

I received your DVD, Gerrymandering, in the mail a few days ago, but didn't watch it until today. It is EXCELLENT but makes my blood boil. Thank you for the incredible information.

Great film! Just watched the movie with my teenage boys. We learned so much and I just want to take the time to thank you for making this documentary! I'm definately more enlightened after watching this movie. I hope people come out this election to vote on this prop in California. Thanks!

1) Dan Meisler provides context and previews Gerrymandering. 

 Please watch and share your thoughts with us today, Wednesday Oct. 6th at 7 PM

U-M’s Ford School of Public Policy

Weill Hall, 735 S. State Street

Ann Arbor, MI

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2)  “Well-Paced” – Philadelphia Jewish Voice

In Philly: 12:00 PM – October 16^th

Rave Motion Pictures University City 6

230 S. 40^th Street

Philadelphia, PA

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3) “Engaging and informative” – The Oregonian

See New York State Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries & Director Jeff Reichert talk Gerrymandering on NY1.