What is Gerrymandering?
Gerrymandering is a political process in which district boundaries are redrawn to favor one political party over another. It is a form of political exploitation that gives a party an unfair advantage in an election and is, unfortunately, done by both major parties in the United States to maintain their power over legislative districts and seats in Congress. The goal of gerrymandering is to create voting districts that are unequal in size, shape, and demographic by manipulating the boundaries of existing districts to either pack as many members of one political party as possible into a single district or to spread them out in a way that they become a minority in every district. These two contrasting methods are referred to as “packing” and “cracking”
“Packing” involves drawing district lines to concentrate as many voters of a particular party or demographic into a single district as possible, ensuring that the other districts are more evenly balanced. The result is that the opposing party can win that district by a large margin, but is disadvantaged in every other legislative district.
On the other hand, "cracking" involves breaking up a particular group of voters into numerous districts, diluting their voting power, and making it more difficult for them to elect a representative who shares their interests. In other words, despite an area having similar demographics or political affiliation, the individuals can be separated to each become minority representatives of other districts.
The effects of gerrymandering are significant, resulting in one political party having disproportionate representation in Congress, even if the actual vote counts are relatively equal. This can lead to policy decisions that do not reflect the views of the majority of voters in a particular area and can result in the perpetuation of political power for one group at the expense of others and the expense of democracy. Gerrymandering gives false hope to voters as they may head to ballets expecting to express their voice in politics, but are, in reality, effectively silenced by party politics that only aim to manipulate the vote in their favor rather than serving the true principles of democracy and the nation’s founding ideals.
History of Gerrymandering
The term “Gerrymandering” itself comes from a combination of the last name of Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry and the word “salamander,” referencing the oddly-shaped district he approved in 1812. However, gerrymandering can be traced back even further, even up to the late 18th century. Despite this, it was not officially addressed by the federal government until the 1960s, when the Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibited discriminatory practices that suppressed minority voting rights. In 1986, the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in the case of Thornburg v. Gingles, which established the legal criteria for determining whether district lines had been drawn in a way that diluted minority voting strength.
However, the rise of computer algorithms and sophisticated voter data has made it easier than ever for political operatives to draw district lines that give their party an advantage. This has led to calls for reform, including the use of independent commissions to draw district lines and the establishment of clear criteria for how districts should be designed These commissions are typically composed of nonpartisan or bipartisan groups of citizens who are charged with drawing district lines that are fair, transparent, and do not favor one political party or group over another. In addition, some states have enacted laws that require specific standards to be met when drawing district lines, such as compactness and contiguity. These standards are designed to prevent districts from being drawn in a way that dilutes the voting power of particular groups or gives an unfair advantage to one political party over another.
What Can You Do Today?
While fighting a system designed to keep you silenced may seem like a helpless battle, individuals can express their voices against Gerrymandering and contribute to definitive change in numerous ways. Various states have recently adopted new changes to prevent Gerrymandering in the future and protect the spirit of democracy.
As a citizen, the first step begins with understanding and finding if the legislative district you live in today is Gerrymandered. Websites such as planscore.org help show the fairness of each state’s districts and identify if votes are skewed to favor one party over another.
Secondly, the most tangible change you can advocate for is the establishment of an Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) in your state. These commissions help reduce the power of self-interested politicians by forming a separate unaffiliated body that is solely responsible for redistricting in a manner that reduces the impact of political injustice. IRCs put power back in the hands of the voter by bringing legislative districts closer to one-person-one-vote systems. As a whole, IRCs are useful in empowering voters with fair maps that fulfill various criteria to maintain political competitiveness.
Finally, while unlikely, the biggest change the United States can make to eliminate Gerrymandering is federal legislation that enforces fair and competitive redistricting. With more strict criteria, the federal government can limit the powers of states which attempt to abuse the powers of legislative redistricting. Recently, on January 19th, 2022, the Freedom to Vote Act, which called for the curbing of Gerrymandering, improvement in the effectiveness of the Federal Election Commission, and greater transparency in political campaigns, was voted down by the Senate. This legislation would have marked a crucial point in the fight for more fair elections. However, the issue ensues, as it has for centuries, empowering two self-interested political parties and suppressing the voices of millions of voters.
This article was Curated by Shivam Kotak.
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