What's the problem with gerrymandering?
Gerrymandering is the manipulation of political districts to rig the outcome of elections to favor one political party over another. Both Democrats and Republicans have engaged in gerrymandering but this type of map-making reduces voter choices and leads to fewer competitive elections and elected officials who are less accountable to their constituents.
How do map-makers create unfair districts?The party that has the majority can pack voters of the minority party into one district so that they reduce the number of minority districts. The majority party can also crack voters of the minority into a number of districts diluting their voting power.
Are Ohio's districts really that much worse than the rest of the country?
Yes, Ohio has some of the worst gerrymandered districts in the country. Read more about Ohio's gerrymandering problem here. And read and download Ohio's Gerrymandering Problem: Why Haven't We Fixed This Yet released by the League of Women Voters of Ohio and Common Cause Ohio released on October 29, 2017.
I’m not a Democrat or Republican. Why should I care?
Gerrymandering gives all voters fewer choices. Districts that lean heavily in one direction or the other mean that the real competition happens in the primary and elected officials are more tied to their political parties than their voters.
Didn't voters already pass redistricting reform?
In November 2015, Ohio voters overwhelming passed Issue 1, which creates redistricting reform for state legislative districts and in May 2018, 75% of voters approved congressional redistricting reform. Both reforms focus on stricter rules for keeps communities together and greater transparency in mapmaking. After the 2020 Census, it will be time to redraw legislative district lines. Since this is the first time with the new rules, it will be important for Ohio voters to follow the process closely and encourage the mapmakers to focus on the voters, rather than on partisan interests.
Still have more questions? A webinar on Redistricting FAQs is available on Demand. Sign up here to register and view the training at your convenience.
|
By Stephen Nass
|
|
Watch this video by the Washington Post to better understand how gerrymandering works. |
|
Check out How Distorted Districts Lead to Distorted Laws from the American Center for Progress
Read the The Twisted History of Gerrymandering in American Politics in the Atlantic
Read the The Twisted History of Gerrymandering in American Politics in the Atlantic