Gerrymandering is the art of redrawing congressional districts within a state. Every ten years, shortly after the Census is released, Representatives are moved around so that the same number of members, 435, is re-proportioned. For example, a state growing in population might take over members, where as a state with a static population may lose members.

Redistricting is done by the party in office, either the GOP or DNC, depending on who is president. It can be done skillfully, by creating districts with higher concentrations of one party less abundant than others.

In Ohio, a known swing state, this has become a well-known issue. According to a study conducted by the University of Akron, approximately 54% of Ohioans identify as Republican. There are 16 representatives in Ohio. Approximately half should be Republican, instead, 75% of them are. There are only four Democratic Representatives for Ohio in Congress. There are twelve Republicans. Twelve.

This partisan imbalance is something that needs to be addressed. Lakewood High School senior, Madisyn Kelly, says she wishes she could do something about this. “It’s not just the Republicans that do this, though. It’s both sides. The GOP and DNC care more about winning than they do about democracy.

The worst part? Gerrymandering is perfectly legal. According to fairvote.org, “When used to insure party success, political gerrymandering is usually legal but can be contested. At this time it is legal to draw district lines to protect incumbents of both parties.” The districts can be shaped however the party chooses, as long as they have a similar population.