Hearing the Will of the People in the Vote: The Mathematics of Redistricting
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Title:
Hearing the Will of the People in the Vote: The Mathematics of Redistricting
Abstract:
How does one identify and understand gerrymandering? If one party wins over 50% of the vote, is it fair that it wins less than 50% of the seats? What do we mean by fair? How can math help illuminate these questions? The story thus far has been an interaction between lawyers, mathematicians, computational scientists, and policy advocates. The legal discussion has been increasingly informed by the mathematical framework, and mathematicians have been pushed to better communicate and effectively persuade with math. The problem of understanding gerrymandering has also prompted the development of a number of new computational algorithms and new mathematical questions.
About the Author:
Jonathan Mattingly, a Charlotte native, is a leading mathematician known for blending theory with real-world impact. After graduating from the NC School of Science and Mathematics, he earned a BS in Applied Mathematics from Yale and a PhD in Applied and Computational Mathematics from Princeton under Yakov Sinai. His academic journey included a Rotary Fellowship in France and positions at Stanford and the Institute for Advanced Study before joining Duke University in 2003. Today, he holds the titles of James B. Duke Professor of Mathematics and Kimberly J. Jenkins Distinguished University Professor of New Technologies. Mattingly’s research explores the long-term behavior of random dynamical systems and stochastic partial differential equations, with landmark contributions to the ergodic theory of fluid dynamics. His work spans numerical methods, biological systems, and even influenza evolution. Beyond academia, he’s a national voice on fair elections, providing expert testimony in major redistricting cases. Honors include an NSF CAREER Award, PECASE, Sloan Fellowship, and election as Fellow of IMS and AMS. In 2019, Common Cause recognized him with the Defender of Freedom Award for his fight against gerrymandering.
Bartlett Webpage: https://www.math.arizona.edu/engagement/general-public/bartlett