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Making Partisan Gerrymandering Fair: One Old and Two New Methods
Author(s) -
Brams Steven J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
social science quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1540-6237
pISSN - 0038-4941
DOI - 10.1111/ssqu.12741
Subject(s) - gerrymandering , redistricting , state (computer science) , context (archaeology) , voter turnout , turnout , political science , political economy , law , economics , politics , voting , democracy , geography , computer science , archaeology , algorithm
Objective To introduce a novel way to make partisan gerrymandering fair. Methods In the context of two parties, divide a state into two geographical areas, each of which contain a number of districts that are roughly proportional to the share of the statewide vote received by each party in the last congressional elections. Allow each party to unilaterally design the districts in a designated area of the state, restricted only by traditional districting principles. Adaptations may be made to account for more than two parties. Results Each party gerrymanders but is limited to doing so in its designated area of the state, with results that are roughly proportional to the statewide vote. Conclusion “Fair gerrymandering” is a way to counter unfair partisan gerrymandering and it is likely to reduce the number of uncontested elections and increase voter turnout.