Fractal geometry can be used to rig an election
Political strategists use complex math to draw jagged district lines that can effectively nullify millions of votes before a single ballot is cast.
In 1812, Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signed a bill creating a district so contorted it looked like a salamander, inadvertently naming a tactic that has since evolved into a high-tech weapon. Today, instead of hand-drawn maps, computers run millions of simulations to find the one configuration that maximizes a party's advantage. By using fractal-like boundaries that stretch hundreds of miles, mapmakers can pack opposition voters into a single district or thin them out across several, ensuring their votes never reach a majority.
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