Would you expect the borders of a gerrymandered district to appear on a map as a rectangle or a circle or some other recognizabl

Question

Montano1993

4 months ago

6

Would you expect the borders of a gerrymandered district to appear on a map as a rectangle or a circle or some other recognizabl

e shape?

History

2 answers:

marta [1.5K] · Answer 1 · 2026-02-24T03:43:21+03:00

Answer:

No, I would not expect the borders of a gerrymandered district to be portrayed on a map as a rectangle, circle, or any other familiar form.

Explanation:

Since gerrymandering is a political strategy aimed at altering and redrawing district lines to benefit a specific group or faction, the resultant borders will possess an irregular shape, unlike rectangles or circles.

The term originated from Elbridge Gerry, who, during his governorship of Massachusetts in 1812, designed a politically favorable district in Boston that formed a salamander-like outline. Hence, his colleagues mockingly dubbed it a gerrymander.

LenKa [1.8K] · Answer 2 · 2026-02-24T03:42:32+03:00

I wouldn't anticipate that the boundaries of a gerrymandered district would resemble a rectangle or a circle, or any familiar geometric shape. Geographic shapes cannot be equated with geometric figures, and a district that has been gerrymandered would take on an odd and unusual form—similar to the scenario when Governor Elbridge Gerry adjusted the Senate district layout, which resulted in a shape likened to a salamander.