Gerrymandering: The Silent Killer of Democracy

An invisible insect is silently cutting the roots of the tree of democracy that has grown on the earth through many sacrifices. Its name is Gerrymandering. The word may sound strange to hear, but its impact is very far-reaching and poses a serious threat to democracy. 

In this article, we will learn the basics of gerrymandering—what it is, how it works, how deep its impact is in different countries of the world, and how we can stand against it.

What is gerrymandering? Understand in simple terms

In simple terms, gerrymandering is the drawing or changing of electoral boundaries in such a way that it benefits a particular political party or group. Imagine, there are 100 voters in an area, of whom 60 support party ‘A’ and 40 support party ‘B’. If this area is divided into 10 seats, then naturally ‘A’ party should get 6 seats and ‘B’ party should get 4 seats.

But through gerrymandering, the ruling party or influential group can draw these boundaries in such a way that the picture of the results completely changes. It is a lot like cutting a cake; who gets the bigger piece depends on the way it is cut. Here, the voters are the ingredients of the cake, and the boundaries of the electoral district are the knife. Whoever has this knife in their hand can cut the cake as they wish.

Origin of the name: A strange vision monster

The term “gerrymandering” originated in 19th-century America. In 1812, Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signed a law that redrew the boundaries of the state’s Senate seats. The purpose of drawing these new boundaries was to give his party, the Democratic-Republican Party, an advantage in the election.

One newly drawn constituency looked so strange and convoluted that critics compared it to the mythical creature Salamander. The name Jerry and the ending of salamander are combined to form the word “Gerry-mander”. This practice of drawing constituency boundaries to one’s own advantage has since become known as “gerrymandering”.

Two main strategies of gerrymandering: cracking and packing

Gerrymandering is basically done through two main strategies. Once these two strategies are understood, the entire process becomes clear.

1. Cracking: Scattering the voters

The word cracking means to break or scatter. In this strategy, the votes of the supporters of the opposition party are divided into multiple constituencies in such a way that they do not get a majority in any area.

For example, if the supporters of the opposition party live in a group in a city, then through cracking, that area is divided into several parts and connected to other neighboring areas. As a result, the votes of the opposition party are spread over different seats and their chances of winning are reduced. They become a minority in each seat and the effectiveness of their vote is lost.

2. Packing: Confining the voters

The word packing means to pack something tightly in one place. This strategy concentrates the opposition party’s supporters in one or two specific constituencies in such a way that they win those seats by a large margin.

Although it may seem good for the opposition party on the surface, it is actually a subtle move. Because it limits the opposition party’s votes to just a few seats. As a result, the ruling party’s path to victory in other neighboring seats becomes easier. Even if the opposition party wins a few seats by a large margin, they lose many seats overall.

By combining these two strategies, the electoral map is arranged in such a way that sometimes a party forms the government despite receiving less total votes. This is against the basic principles of democracy, which is supposed to reflect the majority opinion of the people.

The Shadow of Gerrymandering Around the World: Examples from Some Countries

Although the term gerrymandering is closely associated with the United States. The practice exists in more or less every country in the world. Its form and application may vary from country to country.

Malaysia: In Malaysia, the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional, has long been accused of maintaining its power through gerrymandering. There, rural areas were given the same electoral weight as urban areas, despite their much smaller population. Since rural voters have traditionally been supporters of the ruling party, this unequal division greatly benefited them in elections.

United Kingdom: Although the United Kingdom has an independent commission to determine constituency boundaries, allegations of gerrymandering have also been raised here in the past. In particular, constituency boundaries have been disputed in Northern Ireland, focusing on the division between unionists and nationalists.

France: There is also a political debate in France over changing constituency boundaries. Critics say that ruling parties often try to redraw boundaries to their advantage, which can affect election outcomes.

Singapore: The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in Singapore is accused of gerrymandering through a system called Group Representation Constituency (GRC). This system combines several seats into one larger constituency, and requires a group of voters to vote for the entire panel. Critics say this makes it difficult for opposition parties to contest elections.

Kenya: In Kenya, like many African countries, tribal divisions are used for political purposes. Constituency boundaries are often accused of favoring dominant tribal groups. Which undermines the representation of other groups.

These examples show that gerrymandering is not just a national problem, but a global challenge that undermines the very foundations of democracy.

Far-reaching effects of gerrymandering

The effects of gerrymandering are not limited to the election results. They have long-term and destructive effects, which damage the social and political structure of a country.

• Devaluation of public opinion: The biggest disadvantage of gerrymandering is that it does not reflect the true will of the people. A party wins more seats despite receiving fewer votes, which creates frustration among voters and distrust in the electoral system.

• Increased political polarization: When constituencies are arranged in a way where a party is almost certain to win. The representatives of that area no longer need to be moderate. They only work to please their own staunch supporters. As a result, political ideologies become more extreme, and the path of compromise between parties is closed.

• Reduced accountability of representatives: Representatives who win safe seats lose their accountability to the voters. They know that their seats are almost guaranteed. So maintaining party loyalty becomes more important to them than solving the problems of the people.

• Reduced representation of minority communities: Gerrymandering often targets ethnic, linguistic, or religious minorities. Their political voice is weakened by “cracking” their votes across different areas.

• End of competitive elections: Gerrymandering makes most elections one-sided. It takes away the excitement and enthusiasm of election campaigns. Voters feel that their vote is worthless, which reduces turnout.

The fight against gerrymandering: Which way is the solution?

It is very important to fight this silent killer of democracy. Various countries and organizations around the world have spoken out against it and some effective solutions have also come to the fore.

• Independent Boundary Commission: The most effective way to prevent gerrymandering is to take the responsibility of delimiting electoral districts out of the hands of politicians. And hand them over to an independent and impartial commission. The members of this commission will be non-political figures, such as retired judges, geographers, statisticians and representatives of civil society. Their job will be to delimit the boundaries in complete transparency and on the basis of specific criteria (such as population, geographical integrity, and community interests). Such commissions are working successfully in countries like Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.

• Transparency and public participation: The delimitation process must be transparent. The proposed maps must be made available to the public, and there should be a mechanism for receiving their opinions and suggestions. The views of the general public and various groups should be heard by organizing public hearings.

• Use of mathematical and computer models: It is currently possible to create electoral maps that are free from political influence and fair using various mathematical formulas and computer algorithms. These models can create the most balanced maps based on various criteria. Such as compactness (geographical cohesion of the area) and the ratio of voters to political parties.

• Legal challenges: Going to court against gerrymandering is an important step. When an electoral map discriminates against a particular group or party. There should be an opportunity to challenge it under the law. In many countries, courts have declared gerrymandered maps unconstitutional.

• Raising public awareness: The greatest weapon against gerrymandering is public awareness. When ordinary people understand how their voting rights are being systematically curtailed. They will collectively raise their voices against it. The media, educational institutions, and civil society can play an important role in creating this awareness.

Conclusion

Gerrymandering is a stab at the heart of democracy. It is a process that silently takes power away from the people and hands it over to politicians. When politicians get the chance to choose their voters, democracy loses its true meaning.

Free, fair and competitive elections are essential for a healthy and effective democracy. And this requires fairly drawn constituency boundaries. Therefore, every democracy-loving person in the world should know about the horrors of gerrymandering and protest against it from their respective positions. Because, we all have the responsibility to keep democracy alive.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question 1: Is gerrymandering illegal?

Answer: This varies from country to country. Many countries have clear laws against gerrymandering and courts have ruled it unconstitutional. However, in some countries, political parties continue to practice it because of loopholes in the law. Gerrymandering, when used to target ethnic or religious minorities, is generally considered a violation of human rights law.

Question 2: How can I tell if my country is a victim of gerrymandering?

Answer: There are a few signs that can tell. For example, do the electoral maps look strange and distorted? Do election results often show that a party has won more seats than it has won in a single election? Does your representative in your area win easily and by large margins in elections where there is no competition? If the answer to these questions is ‘yes’, then your country likely has gerrymandering.

Question 3: What can I do as a common citizen against gerrymandering?

Answer: There is a lot to do as a common citizen. First, learn about this issue yourself and inform others. Create public awareness through social media or through discussions. Ask your local representatives about this issue. Be vocal in demanding an independent boundary delimitation commission. You can join various civic organizations that work on this issue. Remember, the voice of the people is the greatest power in a democracy.

Question 4: What is the difference between gerrymandering and normal redistricting?

Answer: Redistricting is a natural and necessary process. After every 10 years, after the census, the boundaries of the electoral districts are redrawn in line with the changes in the population. The aim is to ensure that each seat has approximately the same number of voters (one person, one vote principle). But when this process of redistricting is not done impartially, but with the intention of giving an unethical advantage to any party. It is called gerrymandering. The main difference is the motive – one is fair, the other biased.