The term "gerrymandering" was first used early in the 19th century to describe what then-Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry set about doing with a redrawing of the state’s Senate districts. Gov. Gerry’s newspaper critics said it made one district look like a salamander — essentially, voters were being stuffed into a unnaturally-drawn collection of neighborhoods.
There have been fights over redistricting ever since.
A few states like Arizona have created independent commissions, taking the redrawing responsibilities away from elected officials. And early next month, the Supreme Court is hearing the case of Gill v. Whitford. It concerns the Wisconsin state legislature’s 2011 redistricting map, and the high court’s decision could affect future legislative and congressional partisanship.
With me to talk about gerrymandering and redistricting is David Daley, who wrote about those subjects in his book "Ratf---ed: Why Your Vote Doesn’t Count."
