US Election: Gerrymandering
The Facts
OVERVIEW: Partisan gerrymandering involves drawing the boundaries of legislative districts in a way that allows one party to solidify its hold on power by leveraging the process of legislative redistricting — which occurs every 10 years — to create political maps more favorable to its own candidates. Although it has always been a hot-button issue in American politics, it has taken a more prominent role in recent years.
RACIAL GERRYMANDERING: Drawing electoral district lines predominantly based on race has been illegal since the Voting Rights Act of 1965. While this prohibits maps that seek to dilute the voting power of minority groups, it also generally applies to maps that favor minority groups.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Gerrymandering is terrible for numerous reasons, not the least of which is how Republicans use it to dilute the voting power of minorities. It should be banned. But refraining from gerrymandering while Republicans continue to seize power is not the answer. Democrats must fight back — including gerrymandering in their own interests — until they have enough power to abolish it.
Republican narrative
Democrats never complained about gerrymandering until Republicans got better than them at it. Then, all of a sudden, it became an evil practice. But Democrats are exaggerating the power of the gerrymander. If it were as all-powerful as they make it out to be, no political party would ever lose control of its districts. This is a normal political practice that Democrats engage in as well.
Cynical narrative
The complaining from Democrats and Republicans isn't legitimate because both parties gerrymander massively, eliminating meaningful electoral competition and robbing the American people of their voice. This has only led to the rise of political extremes, making bipartisan compromise all but impossible. American democracy has become far from fair, and election laws should change.
