Final answer:
The claim that political parties eliminate gerrymandering is incorrect. Political parties serve to link the public with elected officials and promote participation in governance. However, gerrymandering is a manipulative practice that parties may engage in, which undermines fair representation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Political parties are fundamental in a democracy because they connect the public with elected officials, through a shared party platform. These parties serve as crucial linkage institutions, translating public sentiment into legislative agenda. They also offer a clear choice to voters, representing different philosophies, strategies, and political beliefs, providing motivation for citizen involvement. Furthermore, political parties are instrumental in the recruitment and preparation of candidates for public office, offering individuals the experience and support necessary for election campaigns.
Gerrymandering, however, is a practice often associated with manipulating district boundaries to benefit a particular political party and is clearly not a benefit of their existence. Gerrymandering is, in fact, a criticism of how parties can sometimes distort political representation. Therefore, the presence of parties does not contribute to eliminating gerrymandering but can potentially exacerbate it.