We are all aware that the United States’ election system is unique compared to others across the world. There are a lot of outside influences on elections (some which we have discussed such as lobbying) but perhaps none more sinister and divisive than gerrymandering.
The redwaing of voting boundaries is not new, and is a once a decade process that, since 1941, has happened after the census at the beginning of each new decade (Congressional Research Service). However, this process has been corrupted by political parties in the attempt to gain unfair advantages and swing elections. In 2019, the supreme court ruled that gerrymandering for party advantage cannot be challenged in court, which according to the Brennan Center for Justice, “has set the stage for perhaps the most ominous round of map drawing in the country’s history.”
So why is gerrymandering so detrimental to our democracy?
Gerrymandering reverses the voting process. Instead of voters picking their politicians to represent them, politicians are now picking their voters. Redistricting is meant to create a fair and better picture of the American population, but now it is used to select the population that will help the interests of a political party.
So what is being done in order to stop or at least slow down the gerrymandering and its effects?
Well, unfortunately we cannot make changes significant enough to stop gerrymandering with our current setup. However, all hope is not lost. There are various groups with large social media campaigns such as EndGerrymandering.com that hope to bring more attention to the issue and rally support.
There is also the possibility of creating whole new government entities in charge of redistrcting, which would be free from political motivation and focus on the original ideas of redistricting: maintaining a fair and balanced election which is representative of the entire population.
Another possible solution is to have a bipartisan redistricting, where leaders and representatives of both political parties come to a consesnsus on how maps should be redrawn.
Either solution is viable, but there is one thing for sure: gerrymandering needs to be put to an end as soon as possible. Gerrymandering reverses the democratic process, essentially nulls voters in certain districts, and is overall a detrimental practice which is allowed in our nation only through incompetence.
Hopefully soon, this article will no longer be relevant, until then, keep fighting.