What is Gerrymandering?

Gerrymandering refers to the practice of manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts in a way that gives one political party an advantage over others. This is typically achieved by either concentrating the opposing party’s voters into a few districts (known as "packing") or spreading them across many districts to dilute their voting power (known as "cracking"). The goal is to maximize the representation of one party while minimizing that of another, which can lead to significant disparities between the percentage of votes received and the percentage of seats won in the legislature.

The correct answer emphasizes that gerrymandering is about creating district boundaries that favor a particular political party, rather than promoting fairness or equal representation. While options that suggest ensuring fair elections or equal representation reflect ideals of democracy, they miss the fundamental aspect of gerrymandering, which is the strategic and often partisan manipulation of district lines.