A commentary by outgoing Victoria councillor Geoff Young.
The word “gerrymander” is more than 200 years old, and the practice it describes, people in power arranging electoral districts to increase their chances of re-election, is even older.
Successful politicians know what areas and types of people are likely to give them support, and try to get those people out to the polling place. Others may point out that the higher concentration of voting places in the southern half of the city is intended to encourage voting by higher-income homeowners who may favour different candidates. I have sympathy for the city employees who must juggle these competing voices in putting forward a suggested list of polling places to the council.
Worse, the crowd of candidates, some running under comical assumed names, in costume, or, in several municipalities, many doing no campaigning beyond the free publicity provided by the municipality and the media, some simply earnest people with no concept of the mechanics of campaigning, creates a circus atmosphere that discourages qualified candidates who will work at being elected.
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