When state politicians draw voting districts to benefit their own parties we call it "Gerrymandering.” Recently, a federal court in Virginia ordered a new map drawn because the previous one unfairly packed black voters into districts. The new state district map is more favorable to Democrats. And Republicans have appealed it to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Caitlin Jewitt teaches political science at Virginia Tech. She says, while the appeal is being heard, the new map stands.
“And it is required to go into effect for the June (state) primaries. Virginia may not delay implementing the districts while the case is being appealed.”
But she adds, come 2020, after the next census is conducted, there’ll be a new opportunity to re-draw Virginia’s voting districts. In her new book, called, “The Primary Rules” she points out that the party in power will always work to create districts most favorable to itself because those are the rules of the game.
