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1) What is gerrymandering? How does it happen? What’s it look like?

Fairly drawn legislative districts are often in the eye of the beholder. Unfair drawing, called gerrymandering, can be easy to recognize but difficult to define, and is almost always subjective.

The courts say districts are drawn fairly when they are contiguous and as compact as population density will allow.

2) What is the effect of gerrymandering? Who does it affect? How do we stop it?

Gerrymandered districts often lead to more extreme politics and politicians, Herzik said.

When more extreme politicians, elected from districts which are almost entirely loyal to one party or the other, they are less likely to compromise when they get to the legislature.

Herzik said the best way to ensure fairness would be to take district redrawing out of the hands of the legislators, and give control of the lines to a non-partisan commission.

3) What other corruption is going on?

Republican Assemblyman Bob Beers says that gerrymandering is just the tip of Nevada’s iceberg of corruption.

According to Beers, many of the state legislators are on the take. Bribes and gratuities are made more attractive by the low pay legislators receive.

For a two year session legislators receive only $7500 and, according to Beers, are expected to work as full time legislators.

This presents a cash flow problem that many legislators have sought to fill by taking outside moneys.