Final answer:
Gerrymandering undermines the democratic process by allowing political parties to draw district boundaries favoring their outcomes, leading to less moderate representatives and more extreme political positions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gerrymandering is the process of drawing legislative district boundaries to benefit a particular political party or group. This manipulation can significantly impact the democratic process by creating partisan advantaged districts. Gerrymandering happens during political redistricting, which often occurs after the census every ten years when district boundaries may need adjustments to reflect population changes.
It takes place in states across the country, wherever legislative bodies control the redistricting process. The motivation behind gerrymandering is to establish a political edge. Advanced computing technology has now made this process even more effective by using data analysis and algorithms to predict voting behaviors and population shifts.
The effects of gerrymandering are far-reaching, leading to a decrease in the number of moderate representatives, thus polarizing Congress. It undermines the representative nature of elections by creating 'safe seats,' where incumbents have little incentive to appeal to a broader electorate or consider opposing viewpoints.