Georgina Lambert: Cannot let gerrymandering further marginalize most vulnerable

To The Daily Sun,

I am writing to urgently address the issue of gerrymandering in New Hampshire and its profound negative impact on lower-income communities. Gerrymandering has long distorted the democratic process by manipulating district boundaries to favor one political party, disenfranchising many citizens — particularly those in marginalized, lower-income areas.

In 2012, despite Democrats winning the popular vote, Republicans secured a disproportionate number of seats, primarily due to districts being drawn to dilute the voting power of certain communities. This is not just a matter of political gamesmanship — it directly harms low-income families, whose needs are often ignored when their voices are suppressed in uncompetitive races. McDonald (2016) highlights how gerrymandering creates districts that minimize the influence of low-income voters, ensuring their concerns are sidelined.

Furthermore, as Cox and Katz (2002) note, such practices protect incumbents, discouraging political engagement in areas where voters feel their participation won’t change anything. Lower-income citizens, already burdened by systemic inequities, are the most affected by this lack of representation.

I urge voters to act now — create an independent, bipartisan commission to ensure that district boundaries are drawn fairly, so every citizen, regardless of income, has a real voice. We cannot allow gerrymandering to further marginalize New Hampshire’s most vulnerable populations.

Georgina Lambert

Belmont