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Barack Obama Announces Initiative To Combat Gerrymandering

Redistricting U is meant to give volunteers "the tools to impact the redistricting process in their state."
Posted at 5:51 PM, Aug 27, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-27 17:51:21-04

Former President Barack Obama has announced a new training initiative to combat partisan gerrymandering. 

He made the announcement in a tweet Monday, saying he's "always made [training] a priority" from his "2008 campaign until now." 

The initiative is called Redistricting U. It's part of the All On The Line campaign. 

According to its website, Redistricting U offers free face-to-face training for volunteers across the country, giving them "the tools to impact the redistricting process in their state." 

Redistricting is the process of redrawing electoral district boundaries. It happens after every census. Partisan gerrymandering happens when those new lines are drawn to unfairly benefit one political party or elected official. 

In most states, the state legislature redraws the lines and the governor either approves or rejects them.

The All On The Line campaign is a joint project of Organizing for Action, which was founded by former Obama aides, and the National Redistricting Action Fund. The NRAF is an affiliate of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, which is chaired by former Obama AG Eric Holder. 

In June, the Supreme Court ruled partisan election maps are constitutional.

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.