> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://zillion.gitbook.io/iredistrict/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://zillion.gitbook.io/iredistrict/do-we-have-to-use-blocks-to-create-the-congressional-plan.md).

# Do we have to use blocks to create the congressional plan?

Blocks are used for redistricting because the population in the blocks is smaller, which helps to achieve population equality with the traditional redistricting approach (manual redistricting). Sometimes congressional plans are required to be 0-deviation.

However, with iRedistrict, we can achieve population equality with 0-deviation using larger units.

Using larger units for redistricting has two advantages:

1. It helps to produce better shape.
2. It saves the workload.