Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing political or electoral district boundaries in a way that gives one political party an unfair advantage over its rivals or dilutes the voting power of certain racial or ethnic groups. The term originates from a law enacted in 1812 by Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry, whose redistricting created a district shape resembling a salamander. This led to a political cartoon and the portmanteau term "gerrymander." There are several ways gerrymandering is done:
- "Cracking," which dilutes the opposing party's voting power by spreading their supporters across many districts.
- "Packing," which concentrates the opposing party's voters into a few districts to reduce their influence elsewhere.
- Malapportionment, where district populations are deliberately uneven to advantage one party.
- Racial gerrymandering, where districts are drawn to minimize the voting strength of racial minority groups.
While racial gerrymandering is illegal and can be challenged in court, political gerrymandering is legal in many states and often controversial for its anti-democratic effects. It can protect incumbents and manipulate electoral outcomes, leading to bizarrely shaped districts designed to secure partisan advantage rather than fair representation. The practice continues to be a significant issue in U.S. politics today. The word is used both as a noun to describe such districts and as a verb for the process of creating them. It has strongly negative connotations as a form of political corruption undermining democratic principles. This summary compiles information from historical context, legal and political implications, and the origin of the term to provide a comprehensive understanding of gerrymandering.
