Description
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewGround War provides a fresh and nuanced examination of gerrymandering right in time for the next round of redistricting battles. With sophisticated empirical analyses, masterful discussion of legal developments, and a novel measure of electoral maps' partisan bias and competitiveness, Goedert presents a compelling take on the ways in which gerrymandering shapes our democracy. Moreover, these analyses thoughtfully build to policy recommendations that could increase the competitiveness and representativeness of our national and state legislatures. In short, this book is a must-read for scholars of elections, election law, and legislative politics. * Brandice Canes-Wrone, Donald E. Stokes Professor of Public and International Affairs and Professor of Politics, Princeton University *
The hardest issue in measuring gerrymandering is accounting for changing electoral conditions. Goedert comes closer than anyone else to solving this problem. His new metric—the historically weighted efficiency gap—is the only one to directly incorporate the likelihood of different electoral outcomes. If I could see just one number about a district map, it would be Goedert's score for it. * Nicholas Stephanopoulos, , Kirkland & Ellis Professor of Law, Harvard Law School *
Table of Contents1. Introduction: A Tale of Two Gerrymanders 2. The Theory Behind Gerrymandering 3. Legal Developments and Standards in Partisan Gerrymandering 4. Gerrymandering and Competitive Elections 5. Measuring Historical Bias: Historically Weighted Efficiency Gap 6. Bias and Responsiveness in Partisan Maps 7. Bias and Responsiveness in Nonpartisan Maps 8. Conclusion: The Road to Reform References Appendices
