Gerrymandering is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group. By drawing districts in a way that concentrates or disperses certain voter populations, it can distort electoral representation, ensuring that a party secures more seats than it would based on the actual vote share. This undermines democratic principles, as voters may be placed in districts where their influence is diluted, leading to disenfranchisement, reduced competition, and potential political polarization.