Armed with novel statistic, researchers push back against partisan bias in redistricting
Wednesday, June 1, 2011 - 04:30
in Mathematics & Economics
Voting districts are redrawn every 10 years after each U.S. census to reflect changes in population. The process can be manipulated by "gerrymandering," drawing districts that have irregular shapes to effectively "stack the deck" in favor of one party or another. Today, as mapping capabilities have evolved, political insiders can create districts with unremarkable shapes that still lock in safe seats for one party.