Why Elected Together Would Make Gerrymandering a Relic of the Past:
Setting:
The fictional County of Here There has:
- 52% support for Party Y
- 48% support for Party X
Yet Party X controls redistricting and as such is able to rig the voting Districts within the county to win 4 out of 6 seats under traditional, single-member, districts.
Elected Together System:
Edgeview County is divided into three districts, each electing two representatives:
- One from the majority group
- One from the largest minority group
Each representative’s voting power in office is weighted according to the percentage of votes they received in the election.
Example Across Three Districts:
District 1 (Gerrymandered to favor Party X):
- Candidate A (Party X) wins the majority seat with 51% of the vote.
- Candidate B (Party Y) wins the minority seat with 49% of the vote.
In the legislature:
- Candidate A casts votes with 51% weight.
- Candidate B casts votes with 49% weight.
District 2 (Gerrymandered to favor Party X):
- Candidate C (Party X) wins the majority seat with 50.5% of the vote.
- Candidate D (Party Y) wins the minority seat with 49.5% of the vote.
In the legislature:
- Candidate C casts votes with 50.5% weight.
- Candidate D casts votes with 49.5% weight.
District 3 (Fairly drawn):
- Candidate E (Party Y) wins the majority seat with 55% of the vote.
- Candidate F (Party X) wins the minority seat with 45% of the vote.
In the legislature:
- Candidate E casts votes with 55% weight.
- Candidate F casts votes with 45% weight.
Countywide Representation Outcome:
Despite gerrymandering in Districts 1 and 2, the total voting power across all six representatives reflects the actual countywide support:
- Party Y: 49% + 49.5% + 55% = 153.5%
- Party X: 51% + 50.5% + 45% = 146.5%
When normalized, this yields:
- Party Y: 51.15%
- Party X: 48.85%
The will of the voters is preserved not just in who gets elected, but in how decisions are made.
Why This Is Revolutionary:
- Gerrymandering becomes irrelevant—even if a party manipulates district lines, they can’t inflate their legislative power.
- Majority rule is honored, but minority influence is proportionally protected.
- Coalition-building is incentivized—every vote matters, and every representative must engage relationally to build consensus.
Civic and Theological Resonance:
This system doesn’t just reflect votes—it reflects dignity as it makes the vast majority will have individuals within office that more closely represent their views and beliefs.
- Each person’s voice is honored.
- Each representative’s power is earned, not assumed.
The body politic becomes a mutual indwelling, not a zero-sum contest.