gerrymander

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ger·ry·man·der / ˈjerēˌmandər/ • v. [tr.] [often as n.] (gerrymandering) manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class. ∎  achieve (a result) by such manipulation: a total freedom to gerrymander the results they want.• n. an instance of such a practice.DERIVATIVES: ger·ry·man·der·er n.ORIGIN: early 19th cent.: from the name of Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts + salamander, from the supposed similarity between a salamander and the shape of a new voting district on a map drawn when he was in office (1812), the creation of which was felt to favor his party: the map (with claws, wings, and fangs added), was published in the Boston Weekly Messenger, with the title The Gerry-Mander.

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