What is gerrymandering and why is it controversial?

Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing the boundaries of electoral districts in a way that gives an unfair advantage to a particular political party or group. Instead of creating districts that represent communities fairly, the lines are manipulated to concentrate or dilute the voting power of certain populations. This can help the party in power win more seats than their overall share of the vote would suggest. Here’s a simple example: Imagine a state with 100 voters — 60 support Party A and 40 support Party B. The state is divided into 5 districts, each with 20 voters. If the districts are drawn fairly, Party A might win about 3 districts and Party B about 2, reflecting their overall support. But with gerrymandering, Party A could draw the lines so that they “pack” many Party B voters into just one district (where Party B wins overwhelmingly), while spreading their own voters thinly but efficiently across the other districts. This way, Party A could win 4 or even all 5 districts, despite only having 60% of the vote. Gerrymandering is controversial because it undermines the principle of fair representation in democracy. When district lines are drawn to favor one group, it can distort election outcomes, reduce competition, and make some votes count less than others. It can also entrench political power, making it harder for voters to hold elected officials accountable or for minority voices to be heard. Because of these effects, many people call for independent commissions or clear rules to make the redistricting process more impartial.