Gerrymandering: A Problem?

Disputes over electoral laws in the United States have persisted since 1812. That year, Elbridge Gerry proposed a congressional district map in which one district was said by a journalist to resemble a salamander. The combination of his surname and the animal’s name gave rise to the modern term “gerrymandering.”

Elections to the House of Representatives are conducted using a plurality voting system: the candidate who receives the most votes wins the seat. One proposed solution is to adopt a system of proportional representation, in which each party receives several seats proportional to its share of the vote.

An advantage of a parliament elected in this way is that partisan conflict may be channeled toward addressing real-world problems. As a result, public discourse could become more focused on problem-solving.

A simple shift from a majoritarian electoral system to a proportional one.