Redesigning a Congressional Redistricting Algorithm for Population Equality
Start Date
August 2025
End Date
August 2025
Location
ALT 304
Abstract
Gerrymandering is the political manipulation of congressional districts to favor a specific voting party. For districts to be drawn with electoral equity, there are several components to consider: compactness, competitiveness, equal population, and fairness, while keeping in mind the specific national and state laws. For example, all districts must be continuous, and Ohio limits the number of counties that can be split. This project explores the component of equal population by using census tracts and voting precincts through geospatial interpolation in R. While focusing on equal population and using census tracts as units, communities remain unsplit, which preserves local demographics and enhances fairness in districting.
Redesigning a Congressional Redistricting Algorithm for Population Equality
ALT 304
Gerrymandering is the political manipulation of congressional districts to favor a specific voting party. For districts to be drawn with electoral equity, there are several components to consider: compactness, competitiveness, equal population, and fairness, while keeping in mind the specific national and state laws. For example, all districts must be continuous, and Ohio limits the number of counties that can be split. This project explores the component of equal population by using census tracts and voting precincts through geospatial interpolation in R. While focusing on equal population and using census tracts as units, communities remain unsplit, which preserves local demographics and enhances fairness in districting.
