Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
4. Draw:
The final step is to draw the map. In the case of the above, that means dividing the state
in question into 100 polygons, each of which (as closely as possible) contains the same number of
people, as calculated in the previous step.
Gerrymandering: Rigging the outcome
“Figures don't lie, but liars do figure.” Maybe you've heard this cute little phrase, which al-
ludes to the possibility of using or manipulating data to serve a particular interest. As regards
political geography, it may manifest itself in
gerrymandering,
the drawing of voter district
boundaries to benefit a particular group or political party.
Gerrymander
pays mocking tribute to Elbridge Gerry, who, as governor of Massachusetts in 1812,
sought to redraw the political district map of his state in such a way that assured the continued dom-
inance of his political party in the statehouse. One particular political district was drawn in a narrow,
sinuous shape that, according to one observer, “looked like a salamander.” That prompted a wag to
respond that it was no salamander, but instead a “gerrymander.” The moniker stuck.
Thenandnow,gerrymanderingtypicallyoccursbecauseapolitical partyorvotingblocwantstomax-
imize its representation in a legislative body and minimize that of another group. Figure 14-8 shows
the two most common types of gerrymanders. By way of background, each diagram is characterized
by the following:
The area in question consists of a city (inner circle) and its surrounding countryside.
An accurate census has placed the region's total population at 50,000.
Two categories of voters live in the district, the As and the Bs. You may think of them as
members of different political parties or different racial or ethnic groups or whatever. The key
thing is that they are on opposite sides of the political fence.
Every member of Group A lives in the city. Every member of Group B lives outside it.
(This is a gross simplification of typical voting bloc geography, and is made strictly to facilit-
ate understanding of gerrymandering techniques.)
Representatives of Group B are currently in power. They will resort to any legal means to
stay there, including drawing voting district boundaries designed to promote election of their
candidates.
