DiRT Research RAP: Gerrymandering and the Prospects of Reform

Join DiRT & The Common Read Experience for a pre-election talk on gerrymandering and its threats to democratic norms with BU Political Science Professor Dan Magleby.

The Roberts Court hamstrung the ability of federal judges to safeguard democratic processes from the distortions created by partisan gerrymanders. Soon, the Court may again act to limit state courts' ability to check efforts to gerrymander electoral maps. If limiting gerrymanders becomes a question of politics rather than law, it will fall to elected policy makers to establish guardrails to protect democracy and limit the influence of gerrymanders. To protect voters from gerrymanders, we must first identify instances where gerrymanders exist. In recent years, political science, mathematics, and computer science have contributed new methods for evaluating electoral maps. Can modern technology resolve the centuries-old problem of gerrymandering? New (and old) methods hold promise, but also present pitfalls.

Nirchi's pizza & beverages will be served, but please RSVP to ensure a proper amount is ordered.

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