Packing

Written By Jonathan Milner

Definition

After each census, based on their population, states are allotted a certain number of Congressional districts which state legislatures then draw into districts. “Packing” that refers to the strategic manipulation of congressional electoral district boundaries to concentrate as many voters of one party as possible into a single district. The goal of this tactic is to dilute the voting power of a specific demographic or political group, effectively “wasting” their votes in lopsided elections and minimizing their impact across multiple districts. While the party in control of redistricting can secure an easy win in the packed district, the primary advantage is in making the surrounding districts safer for their candidates by reducing the concentration of opposition voters. Unlike “cracking,” which disperses voters of one group across multiple districts, “packing” aims to concentrate them into a single district.

Example

 
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Questions

  1. When do states get their allotments of congressional districts?

  2. What entity in each state is responsible for drawing congressional districts?

  3. How does packing related to drawing congressional districts?

  4. What is the difference between packing and cracking?

  5. Is packing illegal?

  6. Does your state crack or pack congressional districts?

  7. Are you in a packed congressional district?

  8. Find an image or emoji that does a good job of illustrating packing.

  9. The band Khruangbin is touring in the United States. I’m going to go see them in Raleigh, NC in June. Do you think that they will tour in any districts that have been cracked or packed?

  10. Why aren’t all districts packed or cracked?

Remember!

Now, let’s commit this term to our long-term memory. On a scrap piece of paper, take 10 or 20 seconds to draw packing. Draw with symbols or stick figures if you wish. Nothing fancy. Don’t expect a masterpiece. No one else will see this but you. Look at your drawing. That’s all - now it’s downloaded into your memory. Destroy the piece of paper in a most delightful way.

Further Review

GoPo Glossary

Jonathan Milner

Civics Maven!

https://www.gopopro.com/
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Cracking
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Rational choice theory