Final answer:
Gerrymandering is the act of manipulating district boundaries to favor a specific group or political party, often resulting in unfair or non-competitive elections.
Step-by-step explanation:
The manipulation of district lines to elect a certain candidate is known as gerrymandering. This practice involves drawing electoral district boundaries in a way that gives advantage to a particular group or political party, often at the expense of fair representation. Gerrymandering can limit the voting strength of minorities or ensure safe seats for incumbents, sometimes leading to non-competitive elections. The term dates back to 1812 and is named after Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry, combined with the word 'salamander' due to the distorted shape of one of the manipulated districts.