Hans von Spakovsky’s OpEd opinion, “Gerrymandering” in inevitable in a democracy” is regrettably true; unless fundamental democratic principles prevail.

Gerrymandering results from a Faustian pact between Republican and Democratic legislators intent on retaining their monopolistic stranglehold on the political process.  In Pennsylvania, with its closed primary system and challenging ballot access hurdles for third-party candidates, entrenched political hacks and party activists are able to limit choices of candidates voters are presented with on election ballots.

National polls indicate while Republicans represent 26%-28% and Democrats 29%-30% of registered voters, an overwhelming 44% are registered as Independent, Libertarians, Greens or other third parties. 

In Pennsylvania, those percentages are skewed with 46% registered as Democrats and 39% as Republican and only 15% registered with other parties as the Commonwealth’s closed primary system drives many non-Republican and non-Democratic voters to register with one of those parties for the sole purpose of voting in an upcoming primary.  Studies suggest with an open primary system party registrations would likely mirror national statistics. 

Sadly, despite noting excessive partisanship in the drawing of districts does lead to results that "reasonably seem unjust," the Supreme Court gave a green light the anti-democratic process of gerrymandering, in its 2019 Rucho v. Common Cause decision, “partisan gerrymandering claims present political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts," and "Federal judges have no license to reallocate political power between the two major political parties," while ignoring the effective disenfranchisement of registered voters who choose not to be aligned with Republicans or Democrats.