Gerrymandering

What is Gerrymandering?

Gerrymandering is an unethical but legal practice used by both democratic and republican parties, to rig American congressional elections. It is a way of drawing districts that causes one party to obtain most of the congressional seats.

How does redistricting work?

A census takes place every ten years to ascertain population size, demographics, political parties and more. After the census, the state legislature constructs a map that divides the state into districts. Each district has approximately 700,000 people in it. Every two years, the district elects a congressperson.

History of Gerrymandering

Gerrymandering was named after Elbridge Gerry, who is known for passing a redistricting law that favored his party in 1812. A newspaper published a political cartoon that compared the shape of the district to a salamander, and it was thus named the Gerrymander.

A diagram of Gerrymandering