Voters Rejected Gerrymandering In 2018, But Some Lawmakers Try To Hold Power

, |

December 28th, 2018

Anti-gerrymandering activists outside the Supreme Court in March, before the court heard arguments on a gerrymandering case. While the Supreme Court ultimately punted on deciding whether partisan gerrymandering was legal, the issue took on a political life of its own this year.

Jacquelyn Martin / AP

The issue of gerrymandering — the ability of politicians to draw legislative districts to benefit their own party — burst into view as a major political issue in 2018.

Even as voters and courts vigorously rejected the practice this year, politicians in some states are doing their best to remain in control of the redistricting process. Critics argue that amounts to letting politicians pick their own voters.

“It’s an indication of how desperate legislators are to cling to power that they’re willing to give the middle finger to voters in their state,” said Justin Levitt, a law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles who researches redistricting.

Related

Top Stories