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This morning I woke up to a lovely new problem on fivethirtyeight.com, Rig The Election … With Math!
It’s great being reminded of one of the many quirks of U.S. democracy that sends me on paranoia-fueled, Internet research spirals.
Gerrymandering is the process of redistricting a state in order to give a particular political party an advantage.
By changing which district constituents live in, the outcomes of future votes are influenced.
Redistricting is decided at a state (not federal) level and, as per usual, not all states have the same rules.
Most, however, leave it to the state legislature to redraw the lines with different flavors of commissions (advisory, backup, politician) thrown into the mix. Only six states use independent commissions that limit – some almost to the point of exclusion - the involvement of elected officials.
While current computer algorithms can give a very useful, detailed picture of what voter populations look like, gerrymandering isn’t a new concept.
As a resident of Massachusetts, I cringe a little over the fact the term is named for Elbridge Gerry, who was a governor of the same state over 200 years ago.
Despite other, say, more noble accomplishments as a founding father, Gerry supported a district map in 1812 that included some irregularly shaped districts favoring his party.
The Boston Gazette observed in a cartoon the map looked like a salamander and an editor called the trick a ‘gerry-mander.’
A majority party in state government may obtain power not only by redistricting to give their candidate an advantage, but also – primarily – by disadvantaging minority party candidates. In the process seats becomes less competitive and a regular citizen’s vote can be devalued.
When reminiscing over Obama’s battle with a Republican congress, it is a little too easy to point fingers at the salamanders of today and blame them as a potential cause of gridlock in Washington. The practice is used by both Democrats (see Illinois) and Republicans (see Pennsylvania).
Some suggest, though, that constituents themselves are more partisan and, therefore, so is the popular vote.
The real problem with gerrymandering is that taking a district to either extreme ‘leapfrogs’ the voice of voters. While rule by majority may be imperfect, it should be represented as accurately possible as the chosen form of U.S. government.
Citizens should strive to hold their state decision-makers accountable in the redistricting process.
"Citizens should strive to hold their state decision-makers accountable in the redistricting process."
ReplyDeleteBut they do.
In a state with a majority of Republican voters, those voters hold their legislators accountable and expect them to ensure that the majority of their congressional districts return Republicans to Washington. And likewise for those states with a Democratic majority.