States Overhaul Election Laws Ahead of Midterms

Researchers from Binghamton University have proposed a nuanced approach to combat gerrymandering, comparing distorted electoral maps to medical illnesses that require proper diagnostic tools for evaluation. In their paper, they emphasize that understanding the specific values violated by gerrymandered maps can aid in identifying and assessing electoral distortions. This comes in the context of the U.S. Constitution's mandate for redistricting following the census every ten years, which has seen gerrymandering evolve into a more sophisticated practice since the 1950s. The Supreme Court's 2019 decision has shifted the responsibility for addressing gerrymandering from federal courts to state-level politics, prompting concerns about the effectiveness of reforms. However, legislative changes are being made in various states to enhance election fairness and infrastructure, as seen in New Jersey's new ballot laws aimed at reducing party influence in elections.