1812, "arrange political divisions in disregard of natural boundaries so as to give one party an advantage in elections," also from 1812 as a noun, American English, from name of Elbridge Gerry + (sala)mander. Gerry, governor of Massachusetts, was lampooned when his party redistricted the state in a blatant bid to preserve an Antifederalist majority. One sprawling Essex County district resembled a salamander, and a newspaper editor dubbed it the Gerrymander. Related: Gerrymandered; gerrymandering.
[T]he division of this county into districts has given an opportunity for a Caracatura stamped at Boston and freely circulated here called the Gerrymander. The towns as they lie are disposed as parts of a monster whose feet and claws are Salem and Marblehead. It is one of those political tricks which have success as far as they go. [William Bentley, diary, April 2, 1812]
What a great story. Uniquely American. Also quite human. My sixty one years of life have shown me that the desire for power and control are common human traits around our globe. Elbridge Gerry obviously had these desires and thus set up a way for future politicians to exercise their same desires.
Today, I heard a great story on NPR. The state of Maryland is moving a bill through its legislature to redraw district boundaries by 2032, but, and this is the key, they will only do so if five surrounding states will do the same first. Here's the deal:
DelmarvaNow is part of the USA Today network.
Fifteen years is a long time, but if I understand correctly, the bill provides that if all states mentioned create these independent commissions prior to the 2020 census then the redistricting can be done immediately after the census results are available. This is a great idea. This would mean that six out of the fifty states (12%) would move away from this method of manipulating election results, allowing them to more accurately reflect the wishes of the voters.
Here is Maryland, a reliably Democratic state. In order to be elected in Maryland, you need to win the primary as a Democrat. This is great leadership on the part of the Maryland legislators. These are people that feel that the good of our country takes precedence over their own ambitions. So what would be the roadblock to this great idea taking hold? I already said it, ambitions of elected officials........in the other states that the Maryland bill calls out.
For those of us that live in any of these states, please call your state representative and insist that they push a bill in their legislature that matches up with the requirements in the Maryland bill. They will need to be reminded to get over their political ambitions and their territoriality. This is a great idea that could take hold throughout our country. This along with the abolition of the Electoral College will make it possible for votes in a national election to be counted with equal weight.
Thank you Maryland.
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