When I look at the state of politics in our nation, it often feels like a race to the bottom. The heartbreaking truth in this race is that the ones who lose the most are ordinary voters like you and me. Politicians usually walk away with what they want, which is to hold on to power. Wealthy individuals and special interest groups also seem to come out on top, often gaining favorable tax treatment or political favors. Stuck in the middle of it all are the people who simply want to have a voice and their vote to count.
One place where this reality is on full display is in the current redistricting fights happening across the nation. Redistricting is supposed to be about representation, but far too often it becomes a tool for silencing communities. Political map drawing has turned into a strategy for weakening influence instead of strengthening democracy.
This practice is not new. It goes back to 1812 when Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts approved election maps that were so oddly shaped, they reminded people of a salamander. That is where the term “gerrymander” came from.
Every ten years, when they release census data, they redraw the congressional districts. What makes today’s fights unique is that they have nothing to do with a census. Texas redrew its maps in 2021, which means the next one should be in 2031, yet only four years later, they are doing it again. Governor Greg Abbott called the new maps a reflection of Texans’ voting preferences, but the deeper truth is this was about power and a brazen, unapologetic attempt to hold on to it. What’s worse is that the President of the United States was the one encouraging this behavior (so much for free and fair elections).
Texas is not alone. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom responded to this by engaging in similar moves. Different parties, different states, but the same result. This isn't a Republican problem or a Democratic problem. It's a democracy problem. The race to the bottom continues, and the people left behind are the very voters our leaders are supposed to represent. Sadly, in this race, we all lose.
When Power Replaces the People
Elections should reflect the will of the people. That is the very heart of representative government. The leaders we elect are supposed to serve us, the voters who put them in office. Unfortunately, gerrymandering flips that order upside down. Instead of maps being drawn to reflect the voice of the people, they manipulate them to secure the power of the party. Both Democrats and Republicans are guilty of this. The result is the same. The influence of the individual voter shrinks while the power of the party expands.
This forces us to ask a challenging question. Does our government truly represent the people in its districts, or are politicians deciding in advance who will vote for them? Shouldn’t voters be the ones who make that decision instead of lawmakers with a vested interest in keeping control? As James Talarico said, "Politicians choosing their voters instead of voters choosing their politicians is the rot at the core of our broken political system."
Does Integrity Matter More Than Party?
Here’s where it gets personal. Would it bother you if the party you oppose did this? If the answer is yes, then it should bother you just as much when the party you support does it too. Right is right, no matter who is in power. Wrong is wrong, even if it benefits your side.
For Christians, this is not a partisan issue; it goes deeper and exposes what is in the heart. We are not called to rubber-stamp whatever our preferred party does. We are called to stand for what is right, fair, and just. When we ignore that responsibility, our light grows dim, and our salt loses its flavor. In truth, we become like the Pharisees. Jesus had strong words for the Pharisees, and one of their greatest failings was prioritizing power and appearances over justice and truth. We cannot afford to fall into the same trap.
Redistricting from a Historical Perspective
Redistricting in many instances is about suppressing the effectiveness of one person’s vote. It’s a way of stacking the deck so that one party can maintain or gain more control in a certain area. "Cracking" and "packing" are two strategies used in redistricting efforts.
Cracking is when voters from a particular community, chosen by either racial or political ties, are split up across multiple districts. By scattering these communities, they dilute their collective voting power. As a result, it is exceedingly difficult for them to choose their preferred candidate. For example, someone could divide a city with a large Republican population into four districts, so that Republicans only make up 20–25% of the vote in each district. By dividing these districts, they minimize the influence of their votes.
Packing is the opposite of cracking. Here, voters from one community, again, it could be racial or political, are concentrated or “packed” as much as possible into one district. For example, someone could draw a district so that Democrats would make up 80–90% of its voters. While this ensures one safe seat for a democratically preferred candidate, it reduces the possibility of democratic voters influencing the surrounding districts.
These strategies have affected ethnic communities, minorities, and even lower-income communities. In addition, for a country that espouses itself as a democratic nation, this behavior is the exact opposite of anything that looks like democracy.
How Can We Advocate for Those Whose Voices Are Pushed to the Margins by Man-made Systems?
As Christians, we don’t get off so easily. Jesus called us to be the salt of the earth, and one of salt’s primary functions is to preserve. That means we preserve what is right, fair, and just in the world. This isn’t just a matter of opinion or preference. It’s about aligning with what God values and standing firmly against what he opposes. Please hear the word of the Lord.
A false balance and dishonest business practices are extremely offensive to the Lord, but an accurate scale is His delight. - Proverbs 11:1 (AMPC)
Is there anything more false or dishonest than gerrymandering the maps so that it gives power to one party and weakens the voice of others? This should be a significant cause of concern for us and should not be something we tolerate. For everyone who decries the need for free and fair elections, how is that even possible when those in power rig the system so it doesn’t happen? There is nothing free or fair about that.
To address this problem, we need to return to a simple yet profound command Jesus gave us:
Now, pause and imagine this. What if your vote was silenced to the point where it no longer mattered? Most of us would feel frustrated, angry, or even hopeless. That is exactly what happens when gerrymandering takes place. It diminishes the power of someone’s voice and strips away their ability to take part fully in the democratic process. God calls us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him. Yet when I look at gerrymandering, I struggle to see any trace of justice in the system.
I began by calling this a race to the bottom, but the truth is, it does not have to end that way. Our political system may be fractured and messy, yet brokenness is not the final word unless we allow it to be. Real change begins when we refuse to accept injustice as normal and instead commit ourselves to doing what is right.
A massive ship does not turn all at once, but with steady persistence, its course shifts. In the same way, if enough of us commit to valuing every voice and protecting every vote, then the tide can change. My prayer is that we would long for an America where democracy is more than a slogan, but a reality in which every citizen is heard, and every ballot truly matters. Without that, we risk holding on to the name of democracy while losing the very heart of it. The end result will be a democratic process that is not so democratic at all.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Clay Banks
