What is one major consequence of gerrymandering?

Gerrymandering refers to the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group. One significant consequence of gerrymandering is that it can distort electoral representation. This distortion occurs because districts are drawn in such a way that they dilute the voting power of certain demographic groups, thus skewing the overall results of elections.

For example, by concentrating opposition voters into a few districts, the party in power can secure more seats while receiving a smaller portion of the overall vote. This results in representatives who may not accurately reflect the overall preferences of the electorate, undermining the principle of fair and equitable representation in a democratic system.

In contrast, other options reflect different aspects of the electoral process. While some might believe that gerrymandering could occasionally encourage voter turnout or promote a two-party system, these are not inherent consequences of the practice, and standardizing voting procedures does not relate to gerrymandering at all. Thus, the ability of gerrymandering to distort electoral representation stands out as a major consequence.