Elections, Voting and Mathematics

Catalog description

This course focuses on three main topics relating math and politics. Polling is a tool ubiquitous in politics. We will determine what makes a good poll, and how much information one can actually infer from a poll. From there we will study the many, and sometimes apparently contradictory, statistical claims made by candidates, ads, and pundits in order to advance their positions. By using mathematical reasoning we will determine what truth lies behind these claims. Finally, we will look at voting to see how much your vote actually counts. We will also compare our (US) voting systems to others around the world, and try to understand what makes a voting system "fair.".