• Political affairs -> Democracy

• 0 Comment

Have there been any successful legal challenges to gerrymandering?

Foy Nott

Hey there!

Yes, there have been successful legal challenges to gerrymandering, although it has been a long and difficult process.

For those who don't know, gerrymandering is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries for political gain. This can result in disproportionate representation in government for certain groups or political parties.

In recent years, there have been a number of legal challenges to gerrymandering. One of the most notable cases was the Supreme Court case of Gill v. Whitford in 2018.

In that case, the plaintiffs argued that the redrawing of Wisconsin's legislative districts in 2011 was an unconstitutional example of partisan gerrymandering. The court ultimately sent the case back to a lower court, but it did establish some guidelines for future challenges to gerrymandering.

Another case that has gained attention in recent years is Common Cause v. Rucho. In that case, plaintiffs argued that North Carolina's congressional districts were unconstitutionally gerrymandered to favor Republicans. In 2019, a federal court agreed and ordered the state to redraw its congressional maps.

There have also been successful legal challenges to gerrymandering at the state level. In 2018, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down the state's congressional district map, ruling that it had been drawn to benefit Republicans. The court ordered the legislature to redraw the map in time for the 2018 midterm elections.

These cases are just a few examples of successful legal challenges to gerrymandering. However, it's important to note that it can be a difficult process. Even in cases where courts have ruled that gerrymandering is unconstitutional, it can be challenging to get lawmakers to create new, fairer district maps.

Overall, though, there is hope that legal challenges can help to combat gerrymandering and ensure fair representation for all voters. It's just one tool in the toolbox of democracy, but an important one.