https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/04/in-major-voting-rights-act-case-supreme-court-strikes-down-redistricting-map-challenged-as-racia/

Gerrymandering is the deliberate manipulation of electoral district boundaries to give one political party, incumbent, or group an unfair advantage over another. By strategically drawing map lines, the party in power can secure more seats than their total vote share would suggest, often creating bizarrely shaped districts to "pack" or "crack" opposing voters. Key Aspects of Gerrymandering:Origin: The term combines Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry's name with a "salamander," referencing an oddly shaped 1812 district drawn to favor his party.Techniques:Packing: Concentrating opposing voters into a few districts, reducing their influence elsewhere.Cracking: Splitting opposing voters across many districts to dilute their voting power.Purpose: To make districts "safe" for one party, reducing competitiveness and enabling, in extreme cases, a party to win a majority of seats with a minority of the popular vote.Impact: It polarizes politics, contributes to voter disillusionment, and can weaken the voting power of minority communities.Legality: The US Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that partisan gerrymandering is not subject to federal court review, leaving it largely to state courts and legislatures. However, racial gerrymandering remains illegal. Solutions: Advocate for using independent, nonpartisan commissions to draw maps rather than politicians to pick their voters.

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/gerrymandering-explained