Etymology and Meaning
The word "gerrymander" is a portmanteau of "gerry" and "salamander." It was coined in 1812 by opponents of Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry to describe the bizarre shape of an electoral district created by his party. The district, drawn to favor the governor's party, resembled a salamander.
Origin
The term originated in the 1812 Massachusetts gubernatorial election, in which Governor Gerry's party, the Democratic-Republicans, sought to redraw electoral districts to increase their chances of winning.
To achieve this, the party created a district in Essex County that was shaped like a salamander. The district had long and narrow boundaries, connecting disparate areas of support for the Democratic-Republicans.
Political opponents of Gerry's party were outraged and published a satirical map of the district in the Boston Gazette, labeling it "The Gerry-Mander." The map became widely circulated and the term "gerrymander" entered the political lexicon.
Definition
Gerrymandering is a practice in which electoral districts are drawn to give one political party or group an unfair advantage over others. This is done by manipulating the boundaries of the districts to create favorable or unfavorable outcomes.
Variations
Over time, the term "gerrymander" has taken on a more general meaning, encompassing any form of electoral manipulation that benefits a particular group or party. This includes not only redrawing district boundaries but also practices such as voter suppression and redrawing district lines based on race or ethnicity (racial gerrymandering).
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