Electoral Reform Leaders Speak with IMD High School Summer Researchers

Over the past month, students participating in IMD’s high school summer research program have been hard at work exploring intersections of mathematics and politics. Alongside their research, IMD hopes to help students bridge the gap between research and electoral reform, illuminating the potential real-world impact of their work. To deepen their understanding of the applications of their work, the students met with Katie Fahey and Ed Shoemaker, two prominent advocates for reforms like ranked choice voting and independent districting commissions.

Katie Fahey, the Executive Director of The People, is an activist best known for her leadership in the successful campaign to end partisan gerrymandering in Michigan. In 2018, the ballot initiative she championed passed, resulting in the creation of an independent redistricting commission for the state. Her efforts were featured in the 2019 documentary “Slay the Dragon,” which chronicled the grassroots campaign she led. Her work in Michigan has inspired anti-gerrymandering campaigns nationwide, and she continues to advocate for electoral reform today.

Ed Shoemaker, the Executive Director of Ranked Choice Boston, works to build support for ranked choice voting in Boston and across the state. These organizations work toward implementation of ranked choice voting in local elections and educate the public about the ways it can make elections more democratic. With extensive experience in both nonprofit and political campaign work, he understands the challenges and strategies involved in turning concepts like ranked choice voting into tangible changes in democratic systems.

We would like to extend our thanks to these speakers for sharing their time and expertise with our high school researchers. Congratulations to the students on all they have accomplished so far this summer!