The Identification and Evaluation of Racial Gerrymandering

Bibliographic Data

ID8375581
AuthorsJohn Ο’loughlin (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, corresponding author), John O'Loughlin
Year1982
Volume72
Issue2
Pages165-184
Publication date1982-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAnnals of the Association of American Geographers (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0004-5608 • E-ISSN: 1467-8306
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1467-8306.1982.tb01817.x
OpenAlexW2147027893
LanguageEN
Citations received17
References cited21

Despite the elimination of differences in the population sizes of election districts, gerrymandering of district boundaries remains an obstacle to full equality for all social and political groups. Legal challenges to district lines on grounds of racial-vote dilution frequently fail because plaintiffs cannot show evidence of discriminatory intent on the part of the redistricting authorities and because no accepted measure of gerrymandering has been developed. A disputed redistricting may be one of hundreds of feasible, constitutional ways to redraw district lines. Charges of racial bias were evaluated using a statistical framework. Congressional districts in Manhattan were favorable to blacks, whereas districts in New Orleans and Mississippi were unfairly drawn to dilute black voting power. Courts, academics, and legal experts can use this evaluation method to determine the fairness of a proposed reapportionment or to judge a plan's equity for social or political interest groups. Key Words: racial gerrymanderingdiscriminating intentfeasible districtingsmodal and tail solutions

Constitution · Democracy · Equal Protection Clause · Equity (law) · Gerrymandering · Plaintiff · Political science · Politics · Population · Racial politics · Redistricting · Social equality · Sociology · Voting · Demography · Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth · Law · Public Administration

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