WINNER of the 2022 Chalkdust magazine Reader's choice book of the year!
Some modern political discussions are focused on electoral reform and the mechanics of democracy. For instance, Maine and Alaska recently adopted new procedures for statewide elections that involve Ranked Choice Voting, while a similar ballot measure in Massachusetts was only narrowly defeated. Meanwhile, countries all over the world use other voting methods with runoffs or scores. It’s important for people to be aware of how different voting methods work in practice so that we can have productive debates about which to use in various situations.
Accordingly, this book will teach you about a variety of voting methods through concrete examples and clear explanations. Each chapter illustrates a different type of voting method using basic definitions, real-world examples, a list of pros and cons, and detailed practice problems with solutions. No prior mathematical or political knowledge is assumed. In fact, the prose is designed for a wide audience, making this book ideal for a general education mathematics course or anyone else who is curious to learn about different methods of voting.
We are also donating part of our profits to two organizations: Fair Fight and The Young People's Project.
Accordingly, this book will teach you about a variety of voting methods through concrete examples and clear explanations. Each chapter illustrates a different type of voting method using basic definitions, real-world examples, a list of pros and cons, and detailed practice problems with solutions. No prior mathematical or political knowledge is assumed. In fact, the prose is designed for a wide audience, making this book ideal for a general education mathematics course or anyone else who is curious to learn about different methods of voting.
We are also donating part of our profits to two organizations: Fair Fight and The Young People's Project.
What people are saying about An INtroduction to the Math of Voting Methods
"A credit to this book is that it treats the voting methods in such a fashion that both sorts of readers (those familiar with voting methods and first-timers) will learn a lot from it." Chalkdust Magazine
"If you find yourself wanting to convince students that understanding mathematics is important, consider this book." Emily Olson, Associate Editor, Notices of the American Mathematics Society
"An Introduction to the Math of Voting Methods is a timely and much-needed resource that would be a valuable addition to a multitude of political science courses, including but not limited to: research methods, elections and voting, representation, and even courses on democratic theory." Evan Crawford, Assistant Professor, Political Science and International Relations, University of San Diego
"If you find yourself wanting to convince students that understanding mathematics is important, consider this book." Emily Olson, Associate Editor, Notices of the American Mathematics Society
"An Introduction to the Math of Voting Methods is a timely and much-needed resource that would be a valuable addition to a multitude of political science courses, including but not limited to: research methods, elections and voting, representation, and even courses on democratic theory." Evan Crawford, Assistant Professor, Political Science and International Relations, University of San Diego
4. Ranked Score Methods (e.g., Borda Count, as used for AP poll rankings of NCAA football teams)
— Austin Buchanan (@AustinLBuchanan) November 28, 2022
5. Cardinal Methods (e.g., approval voting, as used by @informs)
Looking forward to @professorbrenda’s follow-on book that goes more into the math, axioms, and paradoxes
Note for instructors:
This book would work well in a “math for liberal arts” course, like one the author has been teaching. Any student can jump right in, and the exposition and exercises are designed to help the reader grasp key concepts before applying them to specific examples, with some even based on real-world election results.
This book could also work well in a course for math majors, but perhaps with a faster pace and some supplementary material that covers the theory of voting methods and their mathematical properties. In fact, the author is working on a sequel to this book that will include a development of that theory, so stay tuned!
This book could also work well in a course for math majors, but perhaps with a faster pace and some supplementary material that covers the theory of voting methods and their mathematical properties. In fact, the author is working on a sequel to this book that will include a development of that theory, so stay tuned!
Note for learners:
This book is meant for anyone interested in learning the mechanics of different kinds of voting methods. Although the organization of the chapters makes it look like a textbook, we assure you this is not a dry, dense, technical text, and you do not have to be a student in a math class to benefit from reading! The goal is to help you understand and contribute to ongoing conversations about voting you may encounter at the local, state, or national level.
