In the United States, redistricting takes place in each state about every ten years, after the decennial census. It defines geographical boundaries, with each district within a state being geographically contiguous and having about the same number of state voters.

How does gerrymandering start?

The word was created in reaction to a redrawing of Massachusetts state senate election districts under Governor Elbridge Gerry, later Vice President of the United States. Gerry, who personally disapproved of the practice, signed a bill that redistricted Massachusetts for the benefit of the Democratic-Republican Party.

What is gerrymandering in simple terms?

Gerrymandering is when a political group tries to change a voting district to create a result that helps them or hurts the group who is against them. ... Gerrymandering works by wasting votes. It puts more votes of winners into the district they will win so the losers win in another district.