Democrats in the US could gain four additional seats, sparking a stir in the Republican camp; what is the new game of pack and crack.

News Topical, Digital Desk : While a heated debate is raging in India between southern states and some northern states over delimitation, a similar dispute is brewing in the US over the reorganization of constituencies, further exacerbating the divide between Republicans and Democrats.

Virginia voters narrowly approved a key referendum on Tuesday, further strengthening Democrats' position. The approval turned their 6-5 lead into a 10-1 majority. Previously, Republicans had attempted a similar measure in Texas, but Democrats opposed it.

Massachusetts Governor Calls It a Pack and Crack Game

Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry described this change as "packed and cracked" by a district (constituency in Indian parlance) in such a way that his opponents' surplus votes were lost, while supporters were concentrated in districts where he could easily win.

By packing opposition voters into a few districts or spreading them across many, they can tilt the electoral field in their favor without changing a single vote. Gerry further explained that leaders manipulate electoral boundaries so cleverly that they never go against them. Simply put, imagine if a cricket captain could rearrange the boundary ropes mid-match, depending on the team's batting or bowling strength. The outcome of the match is the same here.

Trump initiated the creation of this new map.

This latest map-drawing craze was sparked by President Trump. Last year, at Trump's urging, Texas Republicans aggressively redrew their maps to consolidate Republican seats. Democrats soon realized that carrying a bouquet of flowers into a knife fight was a losing strategy.

He attempted to further consolidate the Democratic Party's lead in California, a Democratic stronghold. Then, in Virginia, where 11 districts lean 6-5 in favor of the Democratic Party, he followed suit and, through some clever maneuvering, turned the state into a 10-1 majority.

Trump, who never backs down from controversy or takes defeat quietly, urged the people of Virginia on the eve of the election (amid the Iran crisis) to "just vote no." When the "yes" vote narrowly won by a mere 3%, his response was as aggressive as ever. While remaining furious about Iran, he lashed out at Democrats, wind power plants, and the Supreme Court.

The elections in Virginia are crucial.

Now, the redistricting in Virginia will have a profound impact on the midterm  elections in November. The Republican majority in the US House of Representatives is currently a slim 217-214 margin. By gaining four seats in Virginia (10-1 instead of 6-5) and neutralizing the Republican advantage in Texas, Democrats are suddenly very close to winning the House of Representatives. For Trump, losing the House would not be just a setback, but a crushing defeat.

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