The exact course of the future is uncertain, but through the process of gerrymandering, politicians attempt to give themselves an edge in the future of the political arena. According to speakers at the Abe Holtzman Public Policy Forum that took place Wednesday night in the Caldwell Lounge, this undermines the legitimacy of the democratic process.
The forum was held in honor of NC State political science professor Abe Holtzman, who died in January 2010.
Speakers at the forum included professors, a professional demographer and two representatives of the North Carolina General Assembly. During the forum, the speakers discussed the historical role of gerrymandering, the current state of districts and argued amongst themselves about the partisan nature of gerrymandering in the modern age.
Gerrymandering is the process in which politicians redraw voting districts so that their party claims the majority of seats in a given election. Gerrymandering is successfully achieved by drawing district lines so that a majority of proponents are packed into districts that essentially become uncontested so that there is less competition in other districts for the opposition. It is a process described by NC State political science professor Andrew Taylor as, “win by a little, lose by a lot.”
Redistricting is done after the national census is taken every 10 years. Typically, districts are meant to be drawn compactly, contiguously and aware of existing political affiliations of the citizens in the districts. According to Taylor, these requirements have not been met by those drawing the districts for some time now. In the last decade, Republicans have been accused of being the party guiltiest of gerrymandering districts, but according to Taylor, this is not always the case.
“Some of the most egregious violators of this nationally have historically been Democrats,” Taylor said.
North Carolina General Assembly representatives Rep. Grier Martin (D) and Rep. Paul “Skip” Stam (R) also spoke at the forum about legislation that could potentially reform this process. Both members of the assembly are currently working across the aisle to fix what they said they see as a longstanding political problem.
According to Martin, the issue of gerrymandering is a partisan issue and has always been in favor of the party in charge.
“The greater the uncertainty of an upcoming election, the more the incentive is for a party to hedge their bets,” Martin said.
Stam said he wasn’t completely optimistic that the underlying issues of gerrymandering would change with the bill but he is still determined to work on redistricting reform.
“No man shall be a judge in his own cause,” Stam said, describing how the process of gerrymandering influences the election process in the hands of those seeking election.
NC State political science professor Mark Nance said that one of the most harmful effects of gerrymandering is the public’s perception of politics.
“Perceptions of legitimacy are affected, and it creates a bad attitude,” Nance said.
