Gerrymandering in the United States: Evolution, Measurement, and Political Consequences
This dissertation investigates the multifaceted issue of gerrymandering in the United States through three interconnected studies. The first study reviews the historical evolution of gerrymandering, assessing its origins, development, and the contemporary political and legal efforts to mitigate its impact. The second study evaluates quantitative measures like the efficiency gap and mean-median difference, highlighting significant flaws and limitations in their current implementations. The third study explores the relationship between gerrymandering and the rise of safe partisan congressional seats, attributing this phenomenon primarily to changes in political geography and voter behavior rather than gerrymandering itself. Together, these studies provide a comprehensive analysis of gerrymandering's historical context, methodological challenges, and contemporary implications, contributing to the discourse on electoral fairness and redistricting reforms.