Reference no: EM133279070

Assignment:

Please read over the student response. In reply, identify something you had not previously been aware of or something which challenges you to think differently.

Gerrymandering is controversial. The American government textbook from openstax.com defines gerrymandering as "the manipulation of legislative district boundaries as a way of favoring a particular candidate." (Openstax.org). Gerrymandering is controversial because it redistricts places to benefit certain parties. Politicians utilize gerrymandering to benefit themselves and their parties. Politicians want as many voters from their party as possible so that they can control many districts. Gerrymandering has also been controversial when it comes to race.

Some district lines had been drawn to dilute the votes of minority groups. The voting rights act and the constitution have made redistricting based on discrimination illegal. Gerrymandering is undemocratic because the districting maps should be drawn to make sure that all districts are equally populated. Some politicians feel that gerrymandering is their way of redistricting in their favor rather than making it equal. Some politicians feel like they have the power to choose where their voters are coming from.

I believe that non-partisan redistricting will be more democratic, competitive, and less partisan. It is important in an election that it be fair. Non-partisan redistricting will make sure that redistricting does what it was meant to do, make things equal. Every party should have an equal shot. It should not be up to legislators to draw their own districts. There should be no discrimination in politics. Also, politics should be a competition. People should vote for whom they agree. Gerrymandering has made it more of a competition of who can have the most voters in the most districts. Non-partisan redistricting also is compliant with the constitution and the Voting Rights Act. I feel that non-partisan will bring balance back to redistricting.