21.   The local elections had to be postponed because of disputes over district boundaries.

22.   The issue is the latest twist on race packing, the practice of drawing district boundaries so they contain enough black voters to elect black politicians.

23.   The results in the rest are virtually fixed district boundaries that dictate one party or the other is destined to win well before the first yard sign is planted.

24.   The results of the special census carry strong social and political ramifications -- from legislative district boundaries to affirmative action programs to immigration policies.

25.   The Supreme Court previously has ruled that legislatures can draw district boundaries to protect incumbents or to favor a certain political party.

26.   They can guarantee that at the next reapportionment, district boundaries will be drawn by an impartial panel of experts rather than the lawmakers themselves.

27.   This year, four governorships are held by Democrats and seven by Republicans, and the task of changing legislative and congressional district boundaries is still three years away.

28.   Two hearings will be held in December to get public comments on the district boundaries.

29.   With Democrats in control, party leaders and the governor could reconfigure district boundaries in their favor, giving Democrats a substantial advantage for at least a decade.

30.   And states that had no change may reshape congressional district boundaries to account for shifts in population.