Gerrymandering and Senate/Presidential Elections

[Garrett78]

I frequently see it suggested that gerrymandering has no bearing on statewide or national elections. While that may seem logical, it isn't true.

Simply put, gerrymandering impacts who is in power, and those in power impact statewide and national elections.

Also, if gerrymandering leads to people feeling like their voice doesn't matter, that could impact turnout for all races.

[wcast]

1. Well said

[toddwv]

2. It definitely does.

It allows them to purge voters that they don't want voting with much greater accuracy, shutdown polling stations to decrease attendance, and other shenanigans that the GOP favors instead of actual voter outreach.

[Igel]

3. Tweak the definition of gerrymandering ...

And you find that it also applies to state boundaries.

(D) voters have (self-)packed into restricted urban areas or in specific states.

Gerrymandering is the same process writ small and subject to easy revision.


Country boundaries are the same. If you divvy up the territory differently you can make sure that tribes/languages/cultures aren't "packed" into areas that represent largely those tribes/languages/cultures.

[Adrahil]

4. That's where voter suppression comes in....

Gerrymandering within the state affects who is elected to state government, and state government enacts laws to disenfranchise voters and suppress the vote.

[roamer65]

5. When we pass Proposal 2 in MI, I hope it serves as a model for other states.

So far the polls are looking good.

Proposal 2 is our anti-gerrymandering referendum.