POLITICS & MATH (2020)

A conversation on political districting with a mathematical perspective

At the start of each decade the law mandates that the boundaries of congressional districts must be redrawn in order to reflect the most recent changes to the population distribution. This is a process of immense importance for the proper functioning of our democracy – the shape of congressional districts greatly influences who runs and who wins in congressional elections, and even influences who controls Congress or state legislatures, or city councils. This process is meant to guarantee the adequate and just representation of the voices of every citizen, but this ideal is not always met.

 

For more details, see the Event Page

Keynote speaker presentation by Dr. Daryl DeFord, Washington State University
Assistant Professor of Mathematics

 
Panel Discussion (moderated by Dr. Nestor Guillen)
The presentation was followed by a panel with members from academia, voting rights groups, and citizens commission on redistricting. The panel will discuss topics such as: the ways in which redistricting influences our politics, how political parties and various interests influence the map making process, the use and misuse of congressional maps to both expand or suppress the vote of groups historically excluded from the political process, and how mathematics and computer science are helping in the creation and analysis of congressional maps.
Panelists:
  • TJ Costello -Austin Independent Citizens’ Redistricting Commission,Vice-Chair
  • Michael Faber -Texas State University,Assistant Professor of Political Science
  • Joaquin Gonzalez – Texas Civil Rights Projects, Staff Attorney
  • Stephanie Swanson – League of Women Voters of Texas, Issue Chair of Redistricting & Census