4 ms·
gerrymandering has the potential to increase homogeneity of voting districts...more homogeneity means that the electorate is more united and can therefore force
by RappingBoomer 4y ago
gerrymandering has the potential to increase homogeneity of voting districts...more homogeneity means that the electorate is more united and can therefore force the politicians to do what the voters want.
- pavlov 4y agoGerrymandering and a first-past-the-post electoral system can result in parliaments where a clear majority of all voters chose party X, yet the majority of seats are held by party Y. (There are several examples of these in the American states.) That doesn't seem to represent "what voters want" very well.
- kelnos 4y agoThat only works if the elected official from a particular voting district has complete say over the law in that district, which they do not. They go on to represent their district in a larger body, which may then vote against that district's wishes.
- totierne2 4y agoSwiss canton? We prefer blood than clocks...
- saxonww 4y agoThat's not what gerrymandering does. No districting scheme forces the elected representative to do what the voters want. Once they get elected, they have their term, and can vote however they want barring expulsion or recall. Gerrymandering is where you draw up districts such that the voting power of people who won't vote for you is minimized. It doesn't have to result in homogeneous districts. The point is to maximize your party's voting power as durably as possible.