Legal Definitions - packing

Definition: Packing is a political strategy used to minimize the representation of a minority group by concentrating them into as few districts as possible. This is done by a dominant political or racial group to gain an advantage in elections.

For example, if a city has a large Hispanic population, the dominant political group may draw district lines so that most of the Hispanic population is concentrated in one or two districts. This makes it more difficult for the Hispanic population to elect representatives who will advocate for their interests.

Another example is when a racial group is concentrated in a specific area, and the dominant political group draws district lines to include that area in a larger district with a majority of a different racial group. This dilutes the voting power of the concentrated racial group.

These examples illustrate how packing can be used to manipulate election outcomes and limit the representation of minority groups.