What is gerrymandering in US elections? What to know in 500 words

EXPLAINER

Gerrymandering, the partisan redrawing of voting districts, is arsenic aged arsenic the US and yet is inactive a arguable portion of its elections.

It’s been called vote-rigging, a powerfulness drawback and conscionable plain sneaky.

But it’s legal, and some Republicans and Democrats bash it.

Gerrymandering, the process of redrawing voting districts to favour governmental parties, is astir arsenic aged arsenic the United States and yet inactive precise overmuch portion of the modern governmental process.

In this year’s wide election, it could impact the result of important races for the US House of Representatives arsenic good arsenic authorities legislatures.

How does gerrymandering work?

Generally, erstwhile a decade, states update their voting districts to bespeak colonisation changes.

That’s wherever gerrymandering creeps into the process. Political parties effort to redraw the electoral maps to springiness their broadside the top fig of seats successful authorities legislatures and Congress.

The territory boundaries are manipulated to enactment like-minded voters unneurotic oregon to divided them apart, either amplifying oregon diluting their voting power.

The results are often contorted districts with meandering boundaries drawn to see immoderate voters and permission others out.

Essentially, gerrymandering allows politicians to take their voters alternatively of the different mode around.

The connection was invented successful 1812 erstwhile the politician of Massachusetts, Elbridge Gerry, redrew the electoral representation for the authorities Senate to payment his party.

The effect was an oddly shaped territory that looked similar a salamander.

It inspired cartoonist Elkanah Tisdale to gully a mythical carnal for the Boston Gazette, calling it the “Gerry-mander”. The sanction stuck.

Forging complacent politicians?

Gerrymandering is arguable — and not conscionable due to the fact that it’s a blatant drawback for votes. Critics assertion it tin dilute the voting powerfulness of radical minorities and undermine democracy.

A 2023 study by Harvard University researchers recovered that gerrymandering often creates “safe” seats for politicians, meaning their races are little competitive. In turn, those politicians go little responsive to the needs of their constituents, who go discouraged astir voting arsenic a result.

At slightest 8 states person wide connection successful their constitutions against the partisan redrawing of voting districts. Others usage autarkic commissions to marque the changes. But the bulk of states deficiency safeguards.

National efforts successful the past Congress besides failed to prohibition partisan gerrymandering.

In 2019, the US Supreme Court ruled it’s up to authorities courts to woody with ineligible battles implicit voting maps.

So now, it’s a state-by-state combat implicit the relation of partisan authorities successful voting districts — with immoderate caller rulings perchance affecting the result of the 2024 election.

For example, successful South Carolina, a caller voting representation has turned a plaything territory into a safer Republican one, causing outrage among voting rights advocates.

In Louisiana and Alabama, meanwhile, recently drawn maps could mean astatine slightest 1 much House spot successful each authorities for Democrats.

And successful North Carolina, the authorities ultimate tribunal ruled successful favour of a gerrymandered legislature map, perchance giving Republicans 3 much House seats.

Each of those races is significant: Control implicit the US House of Representatives is decided by district-level votes, with the destiny of nationalist authorities hanging successful the balance.