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gerrymander
[jer-i-man-der, ger-]
noun
U.S. Politics.the dividing of a state, county, etc., into election districts so as to give one political party a majority in many districts while concentrating the voting strength of the other party into as few districts as possible.
verb (used with object)
U.S. Politics.to subject (a state, county, etc.) to a gerrymander.
gerrymander
/ ˈɛɪˌæԻə /
verb
to divide the constituencies of (a voting area) so as to give one party an unfair advantage
to manipulate or adapt to one's advantage
noun
an act or result of gerrymandering
gerrymander
To change the boundaries of legislative districts to favor one party over another. Typically, the dominant party in a state legislature (which is responsible for drawing the boundaries of congressional districts) will try to concentrate the opposing party's strength in as few districts as possible, while giving itself likely majorities in as many districts as possible.
Other Word Forms
- gerrymanderer noun
- ˌˈԻԲ noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of gerrymander1
Word History and Origins
Origin of gerrymander1
Example Sentences
“To draw an even more extreme gerrymander would only assure that the barrage of legal challenges against Texas will continue.”
Smith said the disconnect is reinforced by gerrymandered legislative and congressional districts, which are drawn to favor Republican candidates and help maintain their supermajority control.
But while elections have been free from fraud and irregularities, critics also say the party maintains an unfair advantage through gerrymandering and a tightly controlled media.
Democrats and voting rights activists also anticipate that the court will order new congressional maps to replace the current, heavily gerrymandered map passed by GOP legislators, which gives Republicans a 6-2 edge in seats.
Twelve Louisiana voters challenged the new map in federal court last spring, and the court scrapped the configuration, ruling that the district created an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.
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