The Redistricting Lab
Population: 15 Blue (60%), 10 Red (40%)
Boundaries follow logical lines. Results match the population (60% Blue, 40% Red).
How to Steal an Election
Cracking (Dilution)
Spreading opposition voters across many districts so they never have a majority in any of them. Their votes are "wasted" as minorities.
Packing (Concentration)
Concentrating opposition voters into a single district to allow them to win huge there, but lose everywhere else. "Sacrifice one to win four."
Real-Life "Hall of Shame"
Famous examples of odd district shapes.
Illinois 4th ("The Earmuffs")
Connects two distinct Hispanic neighborhoods in Chicago using a thin strip of highway.
Reason: Created a "Majority-Minority" district to ensure Latino representation (Voting Rights Act).
Maryland 3rd ("The Praying Mantis")
Often cited as one of the most gerrymandered districts in the US.
Reason: Partisan Gerrymandering designed to pack/crack Republicans to ensure a Democrat win.
North Carolina 12th ("The Snake")
Historically snaked along I-85 for 100+ miles.
Reason: Originally drawn to gather African American voters; later defended as a partisan gerrymander.
Texas 2nd ("The Crenshaw District")
Wraps around Houston in a thin 'C' shape.
Reason: Designed to pick up specific suburban voters while avoiding urban centers.
Key Vocabulary
Voting District
A geographical area represented by a seat or seat(s) in a legislative body.
Redistricting
The process of drawing electoral district boundaries in the United States, usually done every 10 years after the census.