Who We Are…

The Public Mapping Project is comprised of a coalition of people who believe that democracy works best when the public is engaged. The software development is guided by principles for transparency and public participation in redistricting articulated by our advisory board. We describe the project's concept in a Washington Post opinion editorial.

Principal Investigators

The principal investigators of the project are Dr. Michael McDonald and Dr. Micah Altman.

Dr. Michael P. McDonald Associate Professor, George Mason University; non-resident Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Dr. Micah Altman Senior Research Scientist, Harvard University; non-resident Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution

Software Development Partners

Azavea, a certified B-Corporation lead by lead by Robert Cheatham (president), believes in the power of technology to improve communities and our planet. Since 2001, we have been stretching the possibilities of geospatial technology and contributing to the open source community. Azavea has lead sponsored development of DistrictBuilder and contributed its own effort.

As an open-source project, we are indebted to the numerous people who have contributed to the open-source tools we use. We have been fortunate to work with people from around the globe.


Deployment Partners 

Organizations Using Our Software in 2010
 AZArizona Competitive Districts Coalition
 CAContra Costa County 
 ILMidwest Accountable Redistricting
 INMidwest Accountable Redistricting
Draw Marion County
 MIMichigan Citizens' Redistricting Competition
Midwest Accountable Redistricting
 MNDraw Our Minnesota
Draw Our Minnesota (Local Version)
Midwest Accountable Redistricting
 NYRedistrictNY.org 
 OHOhio Redistricting Competition
Midwest Accountable Redistricting
 PAFix Philly Districts 
 VAVirginia Redistricting Competition
 WIMidwest Accountable Redistricting

Founding Advisory Board

Our advisory board includes representation from persons affiliated with both major political parties, non-profit organizations interested in redistricting reform and voting rights, and persons affiliated with official government redistricting authorities.

Mike FortnerIllinois state Representative, 95th District
Carling DinklerJohn Tanner's office, Tennessee 8th Congressional District
Mary WilsonPast President, League of Women Voters
Derek CressmanWestern Regional Director of State Operations, Common Cause
Anthony FairfaxPresident, Census Channel
Kimball Brace 
President, Election Data Services 
Gerry HebertExecutive Director, Campaign Legal Center and Americans for Redistricting Reform
Leah RushExecutive Director, Midwest Democracy Network
Nancy BekavacDirector, Scientists and Engineers for America
Karin Mac DonaldDirector, Statewide Database, Institute for Government Studies, University of California, Berkeley
Thomas E. MannSenior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Norman J. OrnsteinSenior Fellow, The American Enterprise Institute

Funding Support

The Public Mapping Project has received grants from: 

  • Alfred P. Sloan Foundation 
  • The Joyce Foundation
  • William Penn Foundation
  • Amazon Corporation
  • Judy Ford Wason Center at Christopher Newport Univ.