Redistricting Without Gerrymandering?
Redistricting without Gerrymandering??
Did you know the word gerrymandering was originally written “Gerry-mander”?
In 1812, it was named for Governor Elbridge Gerry who redistricted Massachusetts to benefit his Democratic-Republican Party.
For word lovers, gerrymander is a portmanteau of the governor’s last name and the word salamander.
The National League of Women Voters has created an Action Kit on
Redistricting. The introduction points out that—
You have a right to expect that your vote will matter in choosing your representative.
Your community has the right to choose representatives who are accountable and reflective of the people who live in their district.
Unfortunately, politicians often draw their own district maps to maintain their electoral advantage and manipulate the democratic process. (To see the MO
district map go here–
Here are some resources to read and consider as we prepare for redistricting after the 2020 census—
From the LWV, the Redistricting Action Kit– http://forum.lwv.org/document/redistricting-action-kit
From Vox, a video showing an algorithm to help end gerrymandering-
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