Articles by Mike Wessler
- With unanimous, bipartisan support, Montana ends prison gerrymandering
State asks Census Bureau to end this problem nationwide.
Feb 13, 2023 - New York Post editorial shows diversity of support for ending prison gerrymandering
Yet another paper urges Census Bureau to put the issue at the top of its list of changes.
Dec 6, 2022 - Washington ends prison gerrymandering in local government districts
New law builds on the previous measure that ended the practice in state legislative and congressional redistricting.
Mar 16, 2022 - Rhode Island becomes latest state to address prison gerrymandering
Gov. Dan McKee signed into law new legislative districts that count many incarcerated people in their home districts.
Feb 23, 2022 - Rhode Island takes a (small) step toward ending prison gerrymandering
Decision by redistricting commission means 44% of people incarcerated by the state will be counted in the right district
Jan 10, 2022 - For the first time ever, Tennessee counties can avoid prison gerrymandering
A change to state law frees counties to draw districts that truly represent the residents of their communities.
Nov 4, 2021 - One important action can help end local prison gerrymandering in Wisconsin
A confusing and outdated attorney general opinion has forced Wisconsin local governments into prison gerrymandering, but there is still time to fix this before districts are drawn for the next decade.
Oct 26, 2021 - Pennsylvania ending prison gerrymandering, Montana close behind
Pennsylvania and Montana poised to become first states to end prison gerrymandering without legislation, a solution the Prison Policy Initiative has recommended in other states as well. New Jersey expands its law to cover congressional and local districts.
Aug 31, 2021
Recommended Reading:
About the Prison Policy Initiative
Learn more about the organization behind the Prison Gerrymandering Project.
In prisons, Blacks and Latinos do the time while Whites get the jobs
We explore the racial disparity inside prisons.
Rome NY ends prison gerrymandering, Census Bureau can do better
Rome finally corrected the problem of prison gerrymandering within its borders; other cities and counties need the Census Bureau's help.
Prison-based gerrymandering's historical precedent
This is not the first time a policy barred people of color from the polls and transferred their political power to white voters.