The Mathematics of Voting and Representation

Catalog description

The choices we make about how power is distributed and votes are tallied have a profound impact on political outcomes and policies, yet these are rarely discussed or questioned. This course will explore the mathematical principles behind democratic institutions including voting, apportionment, weighted voting, fair choice, and gerrymandering. Both two party and multiparty systems will be discussed with a particular focus on examples from U.S. elections and history. Students will develop an understanding of the connections between mathematics, fairness, and democracy, with practical applications in political science, economics, and public policy.