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(RNS) — I am jealous of people who vote in swing districts and states, those political jurisdictions where both parties have a chance of winning. I have always lived in places like New York City, Washington, D.C., and parts of California where the vote is rarely close.

In such places, voting can seem to be a waste of time. Why bother?

This year, both parties worked hard to make the election irrelevant for most Americans.

In July, Republican leaders in Texas, at the direction of President Donald Trump, put in place a redistricting plan that would severely reduce the ability of Democrats to win elections by packing Democrats into a few districts and making sure that Republicans have majorities in as many districts as possible.

RELATED: Churches must help protect election integrity and restore faith in democracy

Such partisan gerrymandering is legal, according to the U.S.…