How gerrymandering causes extremism and threatens our democracy

Gerrymandering is a political tactic often used to continue one party's control over a district or state and has been linked to the rise of extremism and political polarization. This blog post will discuss the relationship between gerrymandering and extremism, how it can impact our democracy, and potential solutions to strengthen our democracy.

What is gerrymandering?

Gerrymandering is the manipulation of the boundaries of an electoral district to favor one political party over others. The party in power draws districts to maximize its representation in the government at the opposing party's expense.

What is political extremism?

Political extremism refers to the beliefs and actions of individuals or groups that reject mainstream political ideologies and seek to achieve their goals through non-democratic, even violent means. They might have an uncompromising approach to politics and may be unwilling to engage in dialogue or attempt to find common ground with those who hold different views. 

Political extremism is not the same as political dissent, a healthy part of a functioning democracy. People who fall at any point on the political spectrum have a Constitutional right to express their political beliefs and to engage in peaceful protest. However, when these actions turn violent, seek to distort or weaken our democratic norms or processes, or suppress other individuals' rights, they may be classified as extremist.

What is the impact on political representation?

An independent study commissioned by Women4Change found that Indiana’s legislative district maps are more biased toward one party than 95% of all maps drawn across the U.S. in the last 50 years. Gerrymandering on this scale impacts political representation in several ways, including:

• Vote dilution

  Gerrymandering dilutes certain groups' voting power by spreading them out across districts to make it more difficult for them to win elections, meaning that their views and interests are much less likely to be accurately represented in government. 

• Reduced competition and accountability

  Gerrymandering creates "safe" districts that struggle to recruit opposition candidates because outcomes are thought to be predetermined; incumbents are unlikely to be unseated. Moreover, the party dominating these districts is less likely to respond to its constituents' needs since competition is crucial in incentivizing job performance. 

• Disproportionate representation

  Gerrymandering also creates a legislature whose overall makeup is disproportionate to that state's voters. This disproportionate representation can make it more difficult for another party to have a meaningful say in the legislative process. It can lead to legislators passing policies and laws that do not reflect the views of a significant portion of the population.

• Polarization within parties

  Creating districts that are heavily skewed in favor of one party or another can lead to the selection of more highly partisan candidates. 

This phenomenon—called the "primary effect"—encourages candidates to take more extreme positions to increase their chances of motivating their voter base and winning the primary. In an uncompetitive district, the dominant party’s primary winner is generally assured of winning the general election. These circumstances can make it more difficult for politicians to compromise and may discourage working across party lines to find common ground once elected.

How can we address gerrymandering?

Legislators must address gerrymandering by redrawing political boundaries in ways that are equitable to voters or by turning redistricting power over to an independent commission. Bipartisan redistricting or an independent commission can help ensure that the redistricting process is fair and unbiased and prevent one party from manipulating the process for their benefit. 

In bipartisan or nonpartisan redistricting, it can also encourage compromise and collaboration, leading to more balanced and equitable outcomes resulting from electoral districts that are fair, competitive, and representative of the communities they serve.

How can you help?

While gerrymandering is a complex topic, there are things we can do. Here are some ways that voters can help combat gerrymandering:

• Stay informed

  Learn what legislators and local, statewide, and national organizations are doing to combat gerrymandering in your jurisdiction.

• Contact your representatives

  Contact your local, state, and federal elected officials and let them know you are concerned about gerrymandering. Ask them what they are doing to address the issue and encourage them to support measures to ensure fair and transparent redistricting processes.

• Educate others

  Many people are unaware of gerrymandering or how it affects our democracy. By educating others about the issue, citizens can help build enthusiasm in their community around combating gerrymandering and promoting fair representation.

• Get involved with advocacy groups

  Donate to, volunteer with, or spread awareness about organizations working to combat gerrymandering and support efforts to reform redistricting. These groups may organize campaigns, provide information and resources, support pro-democracy candidates, and lobby elected officials. Some of the organizations in Indiana doing this work include the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, and Women4Change.  The National Urban League and the NAACP are two of many organizations engaged in these efforts on a national scale.

Prioritizing bipartisan or independent redistricting commissions, transparency in the redistricting process, and citizen participation are crucial to fixing the issues created by gerrymandering and ensuring fair representation.