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Gerrymandering is the process of drawing electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group. It can significantly influence election outcomes and representation in government.
What Is Gerrymandering?
Gerrymandering involves manipulating district lines to create an advantage for a specific party. This is often done by concentrating voters of the opposition into a few districts or spreading them thin across many districts.
Effects on Representation
When districts are gerrymandered, it can lead to less fair representation. The party in control of redistricting may secure more seats than their actual voter support would suggest. This can distort the democratic process and reduce voter influence.
Methods of Gerrymandering
- Cracking: Dividing opposition voters into many districts to dilute their voting power.
- Packing: Concentrating opposition voters into a few districts to limit their influence elsewhere.
- Hijacking: Redrawing districts to force incumbent candidates to compete against each other.
- Kidnapping: Moving an incumbent’s district to make re-election more difficult.