What is meant by the term “gerrymandering”?

Gerrymandering is a term used in relation to election law in the United States. It describes the practice of manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts in order to favor one political party over another. The term is named after Elbridge Gerry, the Governor of Massachusetts, who in 1812 signed a bill that redistricted his state to benefit his own political party. Gerrymandering can be used in several ways. The most common is by packing, which is when a party draws the district lines to concentrate a certain group of voters into one district. This reduces their electoral power in the surrounding districts. Another technique is known as cracking, which is when the boundaries of a district are drawn to divide voters from a certain group between multiple districts, reducing their influence. Gerrymandering has been used for many years, and it is seen as unfair for a party to manipulate districts in order to gain an electoral advantage. Some states, including California, have taken steps to make the electoral process fairer by creating independent redistricting commissions to create district boundaries without political interference. These commissions take into account population changes, geographical characteristics, and the interests of communities when redrawing district lines.

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What is meant by the term “gerrymandering”?

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