The Voting War In North Carolina | VICE on HBO

Summary

The video script delves into the contentious issue of gerrymandering in the United States, particularly focusing on Asheville, North Carolina. It illustrates how the city's liberal population was split between two conservative districts post-2011 redistricting, diminishing its political influence. The script explores the historical origins of gerrymandering, the strategic 'REDMAP' project by Republicans to gain control over state legislatures, and the use of modern tools like Mapp titude for redistricting. It also discusses the techniques of 'cracking' and 'packing' to manipulate voter influence and highlights the bipartisan support for ending gerrymandering, including the potential impact of the efficiency gap measure before the Supreme Court.

Takeaways

• 🗺️ Asheville, known for its liberal population, was split into two conservative districts following the 2011 redistricting, altering its political landscape.
• 🔄 The redistricting was part of a broader strategy called 'REDMAP' aimed at giving Republicans control over state legislatures to influence congressional redistricting.
• ⚖️ Gerrymandering, the practice of manipulating district maps for political advantage, has been used to ensure conservative majorities in North Carolina despite a balance of registered party voters.
• 📊 The efficiency gap, a statistical measure, was developed to quantify partisan advantage in redistricting, which could be used in Supreme Court cases to assess gerrymandering.
• 🏛️ The U.S. Supreme Court's decisions on gerrymandering cases could set precedents affecting the balance of power in Washington DC.
• 🤝 Bipartisan support is growing for ending gerrymandering due to its negative impact on representation and the performance of Congress.
• 📉 Gerrymandering has led to a decrease in competitive elections and increased political polarization, as seen in California before redistricting reform.
• 👥 Strategies like cracking and packing are used to manipulate voter influence by dispersing or concentrating voters to favor one party over another.
• 🏫 North Carolina A&T State University is an example of cracking, where the campus was split between two districts, diluting the impact of student votes.
• 🗳️ The redistricting process is legally necessary for equal population representation but has been exploited to extreme partisan ends without clear legal limits.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the video script?

The main issue discussed in the video script is gerrymandering, which is the manipulation of district voting maps for the advantage of one political party, and its impact on the political landscape, particularly in Asheville, North Carolina.

How did the 2011 redrawing of congressional districts affect Asheville, North Carolina?

The 2011 redrawing divided Asheville's liberal-leaning population into two conservative districts, which altered the political landscape and made it difficult for Democrats to win in areas that were previously competitive.

What is the historical origin of the term 'gerrymandering'?

The term 'gerrymandering' dates back to 1812 when Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry's Democratic-Republican Party manipulated district lines to gain an advantage in the state Senate. A cartoonist satirized one of the salamander-shaped voting districts, leading to the coining of the term 'gerrymander'.

What is the REDMAP project mentioned in the script?

REDMAP is a strategic plan by Republicans to concentrate resources on key state legislative races where there would be a redrawing of congressional lines based on census data. The goal was to gain control of the US House of Representatives by influencing redistricting.

What are the two main strategies used in partisan gerrymandering?

The two main strategies used in partisan gerrymandering are 'cracking' and 'packing'. Cracking disperses the other side's voters across multiple districts, while packing concentrates them in a few districts where their preferred candidates can win by large margins.

How does gerrymandering affect the influence of voters in Asheville?

Gerrymandering has led to Asheville's liberal population feeling that their voice has been eradicated, as their influence is diluted by being absorbed into more conservative districts, reducing their impact on elections.

What is the efficiency gap and how does it relate to gerrymandering?

The efficiency gap is a statistical measurement created by Nick Stephanopoulos to quantify the extent of partisan advantage in redistricting. It calculates the difference in 'wasted' votes between parties, which can indicate how heavily a district plan has been gerrymandered.

What is the role of the Supreme Court in addressing gerrymandering?

The Supreme Court is expected to provide guidance on the legal limits of partisan gerrymandering. In the script, it is mentioned that the Court will hear arguments for a case involving Wisconsin State Assembly districts, which could set a precedent for using the efficiency gap to measure gerrymandering.

What is the perspective of the architect of REDMAP on the practice of gerrymandering?

The architect of REDMAP, Chris Kowski, views gerrymandering as a strategic move to give Republicans an advantage in state governments. He does not express regret for the practice, believing it was a good thing for his party, despite acknowledging the polarization it can cause.

How has gerrymandering impacted the state of North Carolina's political representation?

Gerrymandering has resulted in Republicans occupying 64% of the state assembly seats in North Carolina, despite there being more registered Democrats than Republicans. This has led to a distortion of representation that does not reflect the state's population as a whole.