Every election cycle and its results are focused around one main aspect: a map. This map outlines different districts and how each area voted relative to numbers predicted beforehand. The districts in each county and state are changed frequently, keeping up with moving populations and different minority groups. There are many factors considered when splitting up the land in this way, which affects the fluctuation of voters in certain areas. One of these types of decisions is called gerrymandering.
Gerrymandering is the act of altering this districting system to favor one’s party during an election, in hopes of gaining additional votes through specifically outlined districts. By outlining districts in a specific way, local areas can be split up so finite that even unfavorable campaigns can find ways to barely win in districts that they would likely otherwise lose.
The term “gerrymandering” derived from an 1812 Massachusetts governor’s campaign, in which Elbridge Gerry allowed the party he was apart of to freely manipulate districting lines, heavily tipping the state’s results in his favor. People started referring to his actions as “gerrymandering,” which caught on and is still the term used today.
However, newly proposed state laws in California are looking to formally end gerrymandering in places throughout the state that it is still used. These bills are meant to ensure cities and towns are respecting geographic locations of certain groups of people, and creating redistricting commissions to focus on this task. For example, political leaders in Placentia, California have been forced to outline their areas dozens of times, as accusations of gerrymandering have plagued the town.
Many organizations and court officials who are in support of these changes have made many places outline their districts to allow for equal representation across all underrepresented groups. Some claim that the local government isn’t in need of such drastic change that would cost a lot of time and money.
Most of these places throughout the state haven’t had to redistrict in decades, which raises concerns regarding which plan is best. California must adapt to new populations and the constant moving of people in, out, and throughout the state, but at what cost? Local governments are pressed with issues surrounding gerrymandering nowadays, which will only continue to grow the more these places can’t find reasonable ways to draw their district maps.
Photo by Sam Gordon
