Gerrymandering Research Paper

Current American democracy is defined by a term known as gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is the political process of deliberate manipulation of electoral district boundaries for partisan advantage. Historically, the roots of gerrymandering lie in undermining the voting power of minorities. Gerrymandering is an effective tool to dilute the power of voters in America. Along this comes disenfranchisement, or voter suppression; systemically targeting opposing political groups via polling locations to voting laws. This paper aims to explore how gerrymandering disenfranchises the democratic process by undermining the representation of voters in districts. Understanding these principles will unveil the urgency of voter suppression across the nation …show more content…
Parallel to disenfranchising opposing political parties, comes suppressing racial minority voters. Following the abolition of slavery in 1865 and the subsequent Reconstruction era, various methods were implemented to suppress the voting rights of African Americans that was guaranteed to them within the fifteenth amendment. The Republican platform of 1868 even declared “The question of suffrage in all the loyal States properly belongs to the people of those States.” Racial and political minority supression has always been the goal of gerrymandering, redistricting, and voter supression. When contextualizing gerrymandering and voter suppression, the legal framework that shaped them is pivotal to understanding. Shelby County v. Holder (2013) significantly changed the effectiveness of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which outlined the political process of states changing their voting laws, was challenged in the Supreme Court. The result allowed for states to change their voting laws without getting preclearance, therefore causing states to implement laws that restricted access to voter IDs and polling …show more content…
However, when the political majority decides on the redistricting, they also decide that their interpretation is legal as well. The historical precedent and the legal framework that has shaped the current understanding of gerrymandering is an issue that needs to be aptly addressed. A multifaceted approach is the solution to gerrymandering and voter suppression. Firstly, new legal precedent should be set within the Supreme Court, such as overruling court cases like ‘Rucho v. Common Cause’ (2019). Conversely, legislation within Congress could be passed that redefines how congressional districts are allowed to be drawn. Also, clear redistricting criteria are a preventative measure to combat gerrymandering. This criteria would prevent racial injustice and protect minority groups. Furthermore, the final solution to solving desinfranchisement lies in the most fundamental democratic right: advocacy. It is a necessity for American citizens to hold their policymakers accountable for suppressing voter

Show More

Related Documents: Gerrymandering Research Paper

Gerrymandering Research Paper

Gerrymandering Research Paper