What is Gerrymandering?

It's easy for political terms to start to sound like buzzwords. Misuse to the point that a phrase has no meaning any longer has been a republican strategy for longer than most of our lives. So, what does gerrymandering actually mean?

Gerrymandering:

1. manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class.

• achieve (a result) by manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency.
• "a total freedom to gerrymander the results they want"

Why do I need to worry about it?

There are long and short answers to this question, but the shortest possible way I can break it down is with a game of checkers. A fair district would start with the correct number of checkers on each side of the board. But with Gerrymandering, one side suddenly gets 3 rows of checkers rather than two. And it only gets worse each time redistricting occurs.

If you're more visual, here's an image breakdown of how elections get stolen via redistricted areas (i.e. Gerrymandering).

Here's the NYT outlining why 2022 is in danger. And the Guardian breaking down how republicans are already stealing elections. Here's a breakdown of the surge gerrymandered districts in recent years. And why it sometimes feels like Texas is in the stone age.

Gerrymandering sucks. How do I stop it?

• Volunteer or donate to Common Cause.
• Watch this handy-dandy explainer on what needs to be done to solve the problem.
• Learn about the For the People Act.
• Find a local grassroots organization dedicated to protecting your local districts. (I will stop talking about involvement in local organizations when I am dead. Good day.)

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