Elbridge Gerry's Salamander (opens in new tab)

Per the puzzle authors: Why is gerrymandering bad? When a map guarantees an outcome, general elections stop mattering. The primary winner takes the seat, so incumbents only need to keep their party's base happy. The centre gets ignored; the extremes perform better. The effects are measurable. When courts struck down North Carolina's partisan map in 2022, the state elected equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats. Republicans redrew it, and in 2024 won 10 of 14 seats in a state that is close...