Gerrymandering

Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to benefit a particular political party, group, or incumbent, often at the expense of fair representation. By shaping districts, boundary-drafters can influence which voters are likely to vote for a given candidate, affecting election outcomes even when overall vote shares are similar.

The term originated in the United States in 1812 after Governor Elbridge Gerry approved a district designed to help his party; a political cartoon compared the shape to a salamander, leading to the portmanteau "gerrymander."

Common techniques include packing, concentrating opponents' votes into a few districts, and cracking, spreading them across many districts to dilute their influence. Other strategies may protect incumbents, create safe seats, or alter minority representation in ways permitted or prohibited by law.

Legal and constitutional scrutiny varies. Some cases challenge racial gerrymandering under equal protection or Voting Rights Act provisions; Shaw v. Reno (1993) recognized that race could be a factor in delineation, while Rucho v. Common Cause (2019) held federal courts cannot adjudicate most claims of partisan gerrymandering as non-justiciable political questions. In many jurisdictions, reform efforts rely on independent or bipartisan redistricting commissions and predefined criteria such as population equality, contiguity, and compactness.

Impact and debate continue: supporters emphasize representation of geographic or demographic coalitions, while critics argue gerrymandering distorts democratic accountability and reduces electoral competition. Reform proposals aim to increase transparency, accountability, and alignment between votes and seats.