Summer 2022 High School Student Research at IMD

This summer, high school students Emily Pallan and Raj Savla are working with IMD to research the effect of the size of the House of Representatives and apportionment methods on past presidential elections. Emily and Raj are rising seniors from Dix Hills, New York and Westchester, New York respectively who are curious about the effects of math in politics. “I’ve always been fascinated by the way data drives elections. That intersection between mathematics and politics is the underlying factor behind some of the most imperative decisions our nation faces. As far as apportionment goes, a difference in where as little as one seat is distributed can impact the passing of nationwide bills and policies,” Emily says. Using historical census and election data, they are reapportioning House seats according to the Hamilton, Jefferson, Adams, Webster, and Dean methods, then observing how this would have affected presidential outcomes. In particular, they are contrasting these outcomes with the Huntington-Hill method we use today. “It is important that we consider which apportionment methods to use because these determine the balance of power in the country,” says Raj, “…it is important to find a middle road and give fair representation to make sure everyone is able to participate in our democracy.”