Happy Gerrymander Day

Mass Moments writes “Gerrymander” Born in Massachusetts "      ...in 1812, a political monster — the 'Gerrymander' — was born in the Massachusetts State House. Governor Elbridge Gerry signed a bill that created oddly-shaped voting districts in several parts of the state. The lines of these districts gave Gerry's party an advantage in the upcoming election. An artist added a head, wings, and claws to the strange shape that was the governor's new home district and declared it looked like a salamander. A quick-witted friend decided a better name was 'Gerry-mander.' Within a month, the image appeared as a cartoon in the local papers and gerrymander, later gerrymander [with a soft 'g'], entered the language. The term has referred ever since to any deliberate redrawing of voting districts to influence the outcome of an election."