Why is gerrymandering bad?

WOSU's show Untangled turned to a University of Cincinnati political science professor to explain the consequences of gerrymandering in state redistricting maps.

UC College of Arts and Sciences Professor David Niven explained how gerrymandering can have unexpected consequences, particularly in small towns that are divided into multiple congressional districts.

Political scientists say in many gerrymandered districts, the primary decides who will win the lopsided general election. As a result, candidates often race to stake out extreme positions to appeal to the hard-right or hard-left bases. And those positions often conflict with the views of many of their constituents.

And in states that have been politically gerrymandered, voters lose much of their ability to hold elected officials accountable.

As a result, state legislatures that benefit from gerrymandering with supermajorities sometimes can be out of step with voters. That happened in 2023 when 57% of Ohio voters enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution through a ballot question in opposition to the views of the Republican-dominated Legislature and governor.

Niven said gerrymandering that ignores the geography of municipal or county boundaries for the sake of political advantage can create confusion among voters when towns get split into multiple districts.

“They look out their front door and see a yard sign for a congressional candidate and they can't vote for that candidate because they're not in that district,” Niven told WOSU.

And Niven said members of Congress are likely to pay less attention to towns where they represent just a fraction of voters.

Ohio voters will decide a ballot question in November backed by Citizens Not Politicians that would replace the Ohio Redistricting Commission composed of elected officials with an independent 15-member panel of Republicans, Democrats and political independents. Retired judges would appoint the commission members.

Listen to Untangled.

Featured image at top: UC political science Professor David Niven says gerrymandering can have unexpected consequences long after elections. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand