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Gerrymandering benefits those who control it, typically incumbents and majority parties. It shields them from competitive elections and helps them maintain their seats even if voter opinions change. Gerrymandering harms voters because it reduces their ability to elect candidates that represent their area and it often makes elections less competitive. This lack of competition contributes to voter apathy: when voters feel that control of a district is predetermined, their incentive to vote is reduced. Gerrymandering also reduces incentives for qualified, non-incumbent candidates to run for office.
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