Question

why does it even matter how our districts are drawn?
gerrymandering is profoundly undemocratic.
every 10 years, states redraw their legislative and congressional district lines following the census. because communities change, redistricting is critical to our democracy: maps must be redrawn to ensure that districts are equally populated, comply with laws such as the voting rights act, and are otherwise representative of a states population. done right, redistricting is a chance to create maps that, in the words of john adams, are an \exact portrait, a miniature\ of the people as a whole.
but sometimes the process is used to draw maps that put a thumb on the scale to manufacture election outcomes that are detached from the preferences of voters. rather than voters choosing their representatives, gerrymandering empowers politicians to choose their voters. this tends to occur especially when line drawing is left to legislatures and one political party controls the process, as has become increasingly common. when that happens, partisan concerns almost invariably take precedence over all else. that produces maps where electoral results are virtually guaranteed even in years where the party drawing maps has a bad year.
what is the goal of redistricting?
in the first line of the second paragraph, what is meant by the phrase \put a thumb on the scale\?
at the end of the second paragraph, what is mean by the phrase \invariably take precedence\?

Explanation:

• For the first question: The text states that redistricting is critical to democracy as maps must be redrawn to ensure districts are equally populated, comply with laws like the Voting Rights Act, and be representative of a state's population. So the goal is to create fair and representative districts.
• For the second question: The phrase "put a thumb on the scale" is used in the context of gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is about manipulating district maps. So it means to manipulate or unfairly influence (here, election outcomes by manipulating district maps).
• For the third question: The text says when one - party controls the redistricting process, partisan concerns take precedence. "Invariably take precedence" means that partisan (political party - related) concerns always come first or are always given more importance.

Answer:

• The goal of redistricting is to ensure that districts are equally populated, comply with relevant laws (such as the Voting Rights Act), and are representative of a state's population.
• The phrase “put a thumb on the scale” means to manipulate or unfairly influence (in this context, election outcomes by manipulating district maps).
• The phrase “invariably take precedence” means that partisan (political party - related) concerns always come first or are always given more importance.