Gerrymandering: The manipulation of electoral districts
EXPLAIN LIKE I’M 5
ELI5: What is gerrymandering?
Gerrymandering can be thought of as a game where the rules are rigged to favor one team.
In redistricting, boundaries are manipulated to give one political party an unfair advantage by creating districts that favor them, similar to rigging a game to ensure a certain outcome.
Have you ever wondered why some voting districts look oddly shaped or why certain areas have more representation than others? The answer to these questions can be found in the practice of gerrymandering.
What is Gerrymandering?
Gerrymandering is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries for political gain.
The term gerrymandering comes from the name of Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, who in 1812 signed a bill that created a voting district that looked like a salamander. Because of this unusual shape, people started calling it a “gerrymander.”
Why Gerrymander?
The goal of gerrymandering is to give one political party an advantage over another by controlling the shape of voting districts. This can be done by “packing” as many of the opposing party’s voters into as few districts as possible, so they have less impact on the outcome of elections.
For example, if a state has two congressional districts and one is predominantly Republican and the other is predominantly Democratic, the Republican district will have fewer voters than the Democratic district. This means that each vote in the Republican district is worth more than each vote in the Democratic district, giving the Republican party an unfair advantage.
Partisan vs racial
There are two main types of gerrymandering: partisan gerrymandering and racial gerrymandering.
Partisan Gerrymandering
Partisan gerrymandering is when the boundaries of a district are drawn to favor one political party over another. This can be done by “packing” as many of the opposing party’s voters into as few districts as possible, so they have less impact on the outcome of elections.
For example, if a state has two congressional districts and one is predominantly Republican and the other is predominantly Democratic, the Republican district will have fewer voters than the Democratic district. This means that each vote in the Republican district is worth more than each vote in the Democratic district, giving the Republican party an unfair advantage.
Racial Gerrymandering
Racial gerrymandering is when the boundaries of a district are drawn to dilute the voting power of a particular racial or ethnic group.
This can be done by “cracking” a group’s voting population across multiple districts, so they don’t have enough voters in any one district to elect a candidate of their choice.
For example, if a state has two congressional districts and one is predominantly white and the other is predominantly black, the black district will have fewer voters than the white district. This means that each vote in the black district is worth less than each vote in the white district, and the black community will have less representation in Congress.
If gerrymandering is wrong, how can we change it?
Both types of gerrymandering are illegal and unconstitutional, as they dilute the voting power of certain groups and violate the principle of “one person, one vote.” However, gerrymandering is still a common practice in many states, and it can have a significant impact on the outcome of elections.
One way to combat gerrymandering is through redistricting reform. This can include creating an independent commission to redraw district boundaries, instead of leaving it up to the state legislature. Another solution is to use alternative redistricting methods such as “multi-member districts” or “ranked-choice voting,” which would take the power of redistricting away from politicians and give it to the voters.
Key Takeaways
- Gerrymandering is the practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries for political gain
- It’s illegal and unconstitutional, but still a common practice
- It can be combated through redistricting reform and by being aware of this practice
- Gerrymandering gives an unfair advantage to one political party over another. It’s important to remember that every vote should be given equal weight in our democracy