The Distrix Idea
A new way to form election districts in the USA?
The Distrix strategy game shows that it's possible to use a competitive, game-based framework to divide any geographic region into a given number of districts of nearly equal area, one sector at a time. A similar framework can be used to form election districts of nearly equal population in US states and other regions of the world, one voting precinct (or census block, census tract, or municipality) at a time. Thus, the game offers a potential solution to America's gerrymandering problem: Instead of election districts being rigged by a small group of insiders, multiple political parties could form election districts by playing a competitive, Distrix-like game against each other in full public view.
Another solution to America's gerrymandering problem is to use a computer algorithm to generate hundreds of fair maps and then ask humans to select the best computer-generated option as the official district map. Click here to access the website of our sister company, District Solutions LLC, where you can learn about Distrix creator Dr. Matt Petering's FastMap computer algorithm. On January 12, 2024, FastMap became the first automated redistricting tool in history to outperform a group of expert human mapmakers in a court setting.
On March 13, 2026, Dr. Petering published his vision for the future of redistricting entitled A Blueprint for Independent Redistricting in Wisconsin. This document is a public policy blueprint which shows how four key elements--broad citizen participation, an independent redistricting commission, redistricting consultants, and computer algorithms like FastMap--can be leveraged to create a super fair and transparent redistricting process that delivers the best possible district maps for Wisconsin and other states going forward. Click here to download this public policy blueprint. Click here to read Dr. Petering's March 29, 2026 op-ed in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
On March 13, 2026, Dr. Petering published his vision for the future of redistricting entitled A Blueprint for Independent Redistricting in Wisconsin. This document is a public policy blueprint which shows how four key elements--broad citizen participation, an independent redistricting commission, redistricting consultants, and computer algorithms like FastMap--can be leveraged to create a super fair and transparent redistricting process that delivers the best possible district maps for Wisconsin and other states going forward. Click here to download this public policy blueprint. Click here to read Dr. Petering's March 29, 2026 op-ed in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.