Which practice involves changing electoral boundaries to favor a party?

Which practice involves changing electoral boundaries to favor a party?

• A. Voter suppression
• B. Vote buying
• C. Changing the boundaries of electoral constituencies to favor one party
• D. Ballot stuffing

Answer: (C)

Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to benefit one political party. By shaping districts in a strategic way, those in power can concentrate voters who support the opposing party into a few districts and spread their own supporters across many districts, increasing the number of seats their party wins even if overall votes are close. This manipulation of the map tilts representation in favor of a specific party rather than reflecting the electorate’s actual voting patterns. Voter suppression, vote buying, and ballot stuffing describe other types of manipulation that don’t involve redraw­ing district lines to gain an electoral edge.

Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to benefit one political party. By shaping districts in a strategic way, those in power can concentrate voters who support the opposing party into a few districts and spread their own supporters across many districts, increasing the number of seats their party wins even if overall votes are close. This manipulation of the map tilts representation in favor of a specific party rather than reflecting the electorate’s actual voting patterns. Voter suppression, vote buying, and ballot stuffing describe other types of manipulation that don’t involve redraw­ing district lines to gain an electoral edge.