GERRYMANDERING

• What is gerrymandering? 
  Gerrymandering is a term that describes the deliberate rearrangement of the boundaries of congressional districts to influence the outcome of elections.
    
• Where did gerrymandering come from?
  The original gerrymander was created in 1812 by Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry, who crafted a district for political purposes that looked like a salamander.
    
• What is the purpose of gerrymandering?
  The purpose of gerrymandering is to either concentrate opposition votes into a few districts to gain more seats for the majority in surrounding districts (called packing), or to diffuse minority strength across many districts (called dilution).
    
• How has Congress regulated redistricting?
  In 1967, Congress passed a law requiring all U.S. representatives to be elected from single member districtsóthe system we use today. Congress in 1982 amended the Voting Rights Act to protect the voting rights of protected racial minorities in redistricting. Within those laws, states have great leeway to draw districts, which often leads to gerrymandering.
• FairVote's Gerrymandering Resources
  Visit FairVote's comprehensive list of gerrymandering resources, including our 2005 Redistricting Reform Watch and our Public Interest Guide to Redistricting.