Gerrymandering makes many elections useless if you’re in the districted minority, so you and many who think like you don’t vote. Results come out showing a sweeping win for the majority, so you and others who think like you feel like you’re so far in the minority that there’s never a point to voting because you’ll never “win,” even in statewide elections.
I wouldn’t be surprised if that was a part of the calculus behind gerrymandering in the first place. Not only do you get the immediate representation you’re seeking, but also makes it so people who disagree just stop voting altogether.
Totally!
Gerrymandering makes many elections useless if you’re in the districted minority, so you and many who think like you don’t vote. Results come out showing a sweeping win for the majority, so you and others who think like you feel like you’re so far in the minority that there’s never a point to voting because you’ll never “win,” even in statewide elections.
I wouldn’t be surprised if that was a part of the calculus behind gerrymandering in the first place. Not only do you get the immediate representation you’re seeking, but also makes it so people who disagree just stop voting altogether.