Are we this divided or are we being exploited

Manhattan: For more than 200 years, the redistricting process has been inherently political due to the practice of gerrymandering, the strategic manipulation of district lines to create an undue advantage for one political party or demographic group. Gerrymandering erodes the public’s role in the democratic process. Districts are either drawn to “pack” a certain group into as few districts as possible to reduce its say, or are “cracked” apart to separate a group into as many districts as possible so its collective voice is outweighed — cracking and packing. With the technology available today, maps are drawn with surgical precision, down to the building, to choose exactly which voters the map-maker wants in each district.

Gerrymandering is driving hyper-partisanship and promoting excessive division throughout the country. It creates an environment where competitive districts are a rarity and more extreme candidates are being elected. As seen in New York, politicians have been using gerrymandering to their advantage for decades. The party in power during redistricting can completely alter the political landscape of the state and swing it to secure its advantage for a decade.

While the judicial system is there to uphold our laws and democracy, it is only our first line of defense. Loopholes and clever redistricting legislation have allowed gerrymandered maps to be accepted. We must demand systemic change to our redistricting to ensure equitable representation. This means voting for candidates that will advocate for equitable redistricting policy and voting rights and urging the passage of fair anti-gerrymandering redistricting legislation.