Which two techniques are commonly used in gerrymandering?

• A. Splitting and redrawing.
• B. Merging and dividing.
• C. Proportional adjustment and census manipulation.
• D. Packing and cracking.

Answer: (D)

Gerrymandering aims to tilt elections by shaping district lines. The two classic techniques used are packing and cracking. Packing concentrates as many opposition voters as possible into a few districts, creating wasted votes and leaving other districts with stronger support for the party in control. Cracking spreads those opponents thin across many districts, preventing them from forming a majority anywhere. Together, these tactics help the drawing party maximize seats with a given overall vote share and are the standard paired methods discussed in political geography. The other options pair terms that aren’t the established duo used in gerrymandering, or describe processes that aren’t specific techniques of this practice.