Gerrymandering describes the practice of engineering the boundary of political districts in such a way as to give one party (almost invariably the one that draws the districts) an advantage in elections. This has often given rise to highly convoluted district boundaries—which just visually scream that some nefarious intent was afoot. The practice received its name when it was first used in 1812 by the Governor of Massachusetts, Elbridge Gerry, who created a district with a shape that was...