Legal Definitions - delineational gerrymandering

Delineational gerrymandering refers to a specific type of gerrymandering where the boundaries of electoral districts are drawn in a way that unfairly favors one political party, group, or demographic over another. The term "delineational" emphasizes that the manipulation occurs precisely through the *delineation* or drawing of these lines, often resulting in oddly shaped districts designed to concentrate opposing voters into a few districts (known as "packing") or spread them thinly across many districts (known as "cracking"). The ultimate goal is to manipulate election outcomes by strategically altering the geographic distribution of voters.

• Example 1: State Legislative Districts

  After a new census, a state legislature controlled by Party X is responsible for redrawing the boundaries for its state assembly districts. They draw one district that snakes narrowly for dozens of miles, connecting several small, rural towns that predominantly vote for Party X. Simultaneously, they carve out a large, densely populated urban area, known for its strong support of Party Y, and place it entirely into a single, overwhelmingly Party Y district. This leaves Party Y with only one guaranteed seat, despite their voters being more numerous and geographically diverse across the state.

  Explanation: This illustrates delineational gerrymandering because the *lines* of the districts are deliberately drawn in an unusual, non-compact way. By connecting disparate Party X strongholds and concentrating Party Y voters into a single district (packing), Party X manipulates the district boundaries to secure a disproportionate number of seats for themselves.

• Example 2: City Council Wards

  A city council, dominated by a particular political faction, decides to redraw the boundaries for its five city council wards. They redraw the lines so that a rapidly growing neighborhood, known for its strong support of an opposing grassroots community movement, is split into three different wards. In each of these new wards, the neighborhood's voters are now a minority compared to the voters from other areas who tend to support the incumbent faction.

  Explanation: Here, the *delineation* of the city council ward lines is used to dilute the voting power of the opposing grassroots movement. By splitting their stronghold, their votes are "cracked" across multiple wards, preventing them from forming a majority in any single ward and thus significantly reducing their chances of electing a representative from their movement.

• Example 3: School Board Districts

  In a large county where school board members are elected by district, the current school board majority redraws the district maps. They create several districts that are long and narrow, encompassing suburban areas that reliably vote for candidates aligned with the current majority. They also isolate a diverse, lower-income urban area, which tends to vote for reform-minded candidates, into a few highly concentrated districts. This ensures that a majority of the elected school board members will continue to come from the incumbent-aligned group, even if the overall county population is shifting towards different educational priorities.

  Explanation: This demonstrates delineational gerrymandering because the *boundaries* of the school board districts are manipulated to create an electoral advantage for the incumbent-aligned group. By strategically drawing lines to combine favorable voter blocs and isolate unfavorable ones, they can influence the composition of the school board, impacting local educational policy for years to come.