This represents the voting population of an entire region.
This is how the voting districts should be drawn for fair representation.
This is how gerrymandering can leave the minority without representation. The voting outcome of these districts would favor the blue group, which is in line with the actual demographics of the area. But the lines unfairly disempower the red group.
And this is how gerrymandering can result in minority rule, leaving the majority underrepresented.
In many states, the party with legislative control gets to re-draw the lines for congressional districts. Following the 2020 Census, Republicans will have the ability to re-draw 187 congressional districts. Democrats will only control 75.
This is the most commonly used and proposed solution, which would take the power of redistricting and put it in the hands of an independent and non-partisan panel that would draw congressional lines.
Currently, maps can be drawn however the party in power wants, allowing them to create odd-looking districts that make little sense in order to maintain power.
Passing laws that require maps to focus on contiguous political districts, or communities that share political and geographical makeup, would eliminate some of the bias.
Another option: Hand over the mapmaking process to machines. There are several computer models that treat redistricting like a math equation rather than a political calculus.
It passed the House in March but was filibustered by Republicans in the Senate. The bill would require independent commissions to be established in every state to handle redistricting and would require bipartisan support for every proposed map.
Right now, it’s stalled. But other versions of the bill like the Freedom to Vote Act offer similar paths to addressing gerrymandering — if they can pass Republican opposition.