Comment by Brybry
6 months ago
Gerrymandering can affect voter sentiment and trigger polling location changes during redistricting, both of which can affect voter turnout[1][2][3] (though the research doesn't seem conclusive on the effect).
And thinking about it more, though I haven't seen if there are studies on it: there are probably manpower/fundraising effects from gerrymandering.
If you're able to protect your political power in one area that probably better enables you to amass resources to use in the area you can't gerrymander.
But all that said, both parties practice gerrymandering and I don't think there's strong evidence of a significant advantage over a major party from current gerrymandering at the national level.
[1] https://da.lib.kobe-u.ac.jp/da/kernel/90008864/90008864.pdf
[2] https://electionlab.mit.edu/articles/gerrymandering-turnout-...
[3] https://stateline.org/2022/05/20/check-your-polling-place-re...
> On a percentage basis, over three times as many districts were competitive in states where independent commissions drew maps as in states where Republicans drew maps.
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-...
That’s just confusing cause and effect. If your seats are safe, you have no reason to agree to forming an independent commission. The same is true in both heavily blue and heavily red states. Are districts more competitive in states where Democrats draw maps? I don’t think so.
This totally ignores values and motivations, and I would argue that only one group in your comment values winning at any cost.
9 replies →