The Variability of Partisanship and Turnout

Abstract

Research on the impact ot redistricting on the representational opportunity of political groups is frequently grounded on the assumption that a group's "fair representation" can be easily determined. In this article the author takes issue with this assumption and shows that because partisan behavior is quite sensitive to changes in the electoral environment, the partisan profile and, therefore, the fair representation of a given constituency is quite difficult to determine. As a result, theories of representation as well as the concept of its denial by gerrymander must be reconsidered.