Chapter 6 – The Legislative Branch
6.20 Gerrymandering
Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing the boundaries of electoral districts in a way that gives one political party or group an unfair advantage over its opponents. Gerrymandering can significantly impact election outcomes by shaping the political landscape to favor the party in control of the redistricting process, often leading to a lack of fair representation for certain groups.
Gerrymandering, which is when districts are drawn to favor Republicans or Democrats, often leads to general elections where most races aren’t competitive. Paul Scracic, a professor at Youngstown State, points out “Because of gerrymandering there are usually only about two dozen competitive seats in the Ohio House and three to four in the Senate during elections.” (Scracic and Binning 2015, p. 29).
A related problem is that when one party controls most of the seats, politicians have less reason to work together across party lines, leading to increased political conflicts. This can lead to increased political polarization, which we will discuss in more detail later in the chapter.
In the HBO show Last Week Tonight, the host John Oliver critiques the practice of gerrymandering. Warning: there is some vulgarity, and the host tends to lean left (I’d prefer to give you down-the-middle commentators), but the video provides a unique overview of the process.
YouTube URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-4dIImaodQ
Duration: 19:34
It’s important to note that both Republican and Democrat-controlled states engage in gerrymandering. For example, Maryland, which is controlled by Democrats, is often cited as one of the worst offenders. However, there are examples of reform, in places such as California, where an independent commission draws district lines to ensure fairer representation. This shows that changes can be made to reduce the negative impact of gerrymandering.
In 2024, Ohio voters rejected Issue 1, a proposed constitutional amendment to create a citizen-led commission for redistricting. This would have replaced the current system. The ballot language, approved by a GOP-controlled board, misleadingly claimed the amendment required gerrymandering, which reformers said misled voters.
Proponents of the measure, including former Republican Ohio Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, argued it would ensure fairness and transparency but faced significant challenges.
Opponents, including Governor Mike DeWine and President Donald Trump, criticized the proposal as flawed and unaccountable. Despite the defeat, supporters vowed to continue advocating for redistricting reform to end gerrymandering in Ohio.
References
Carr Smyth, Julie. 2024 (Nov 6). Ohio Voters Reject Replacing Troubled Mapmaking System with Citizen-led Redistricting Commission. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-redistricting-ballot-measure-ohio-af8ae51957bfb3086250f6ed7e2b0646
Sracic, Paul A., and William C. Binning. 2015. Ohio in Ohio Government and Politics. Washington DC: CQ Press.
