Why Gerrymandering Is a Necessary Evil in Our Current System

(And Why We Need to Change that System)
By Curtis Hed v.20250920

Please read completely—and check out the Elected Together home.

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So why do we need gerrymandering?

Imagine a state where 60% of voters lean purple and 40% lean green. Now imagine those proportions are consistent across every voting district. What would happen?

We would up with a completely purple government—one that believes it has a mandate to govern without compromise. This is the problem with winner-takes-all elections.

In such a system, gerrymandering becomes a tool—however flawed—to create a governmental body that more accurately reflects the beliefs of the state’s population as a whole.

This exposes a deeper issue in how we view representation. In our current system, a simple majority is all that’s needed to pass laws that affect everyone. That means large segments of the population can be effectively silenced, even when their numbers are significant.

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Therein lies the need for reform.

I’ve come to believe there’s a better way to vote—and to appoint those who govern us. A way that’s less focused on defeating those who disagree, and more focused on understanding that good governance requires hearing and accounting for the vast majority of our citizens.

Representation should not be a zero-sum game. It should be a shared stewardship—one that honors the diversity of thought, belief, and experience within our society.

Elected Together is a civic initiative dedicated to building election systems that foster moderation, inclusion, and shared stewardship. We believe representation should not be a contest between extremes—winner-takes-all battles that pit us against one another—but a conversation that draws wisdom from across the spectrum, especially the space between polarized pools of belief.

Through simulations, outreach, and collaborative modeling, Elected Together is an alternatives to winner-takes-all elections. It employs ranked-choice dual seat voting systems—that promote transparency, inclusion, and shared responsibility. Our goal is to equip reformers, educators, and everyday citizens with tools that make democracy more just, more relational, and more responsive.

If you’re ready to rethink how we elect—and how we relate—visit the Elected Together home and join the conversation.