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A New Shape Measure for Evaluating Electoral District Patterns

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  • Taylor, Peter J.

Abstract

The concept of shape is considered in abstract terms drawing on approaches outside the electoral districting literature. The concept is broken down into a series of four divergences from “compactness” relating to “elongation,” “indentation,” “separation,” and “puncturedness.” Given this conceptual framework, the use of shape measures in electoral districting is reconsidered and a new shape measure is proposed. This assesses the indentation of a district shape and is based on the internal angles within the shape. It is suggested that this measure may be particularly relevant to the evaluation of proposed new districting patterns. The technique is illustrated using proposed new Congressional Districts for Iowa.

Suggested Citation

  • Taylor, Peter J., 1973. "A New Shape Measure for Evaluating Electoral District Patterns," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 67(3), pages 947-950, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:67:y:1973:i:03:p:947-950_14
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    Cited by:

    1. Matthew P. Dube & Jesse T. Clark & Richard J. Powell, 2022. "Graphical metrics for analyzing district maps," Journal of Computational Social Science, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 449-475, May.
    2. Roland G. Fryer Jr. & Richard Holden, 2011. "Measuring the Compactness of Political Districting Plans," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 54(3), pages 493-535.
    3. Verónica Arredondo & Miguel Martínez-Panero & Teresa Peña & Federica Ricca, 2021. "Mathematical political districting taking care of minority groups," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 305(1), pages 375-402, October.
    4. Brian Lunday & Hanif Sherali & Kevin Lunday, 2012. "The coastal seaspace patrol sector design and allocation problem," Computational Management Science, Springer, vol. 9(4), pages 483-514, November.
    5. D J Rossiter & R J Johnston, 1981. "Program GROUP: The Identification of All Possible Solutions to a Constituency-Delimitation Problem," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 13(2), pages 231-238, February.
    6. R.J. Johnston & D.J. Rossiter, 1981. "Shape and the Definition of Parliamentary Constituencies," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 18(2), pages 219-223, June.
    7. J K Wildgen, 1990. "The Matrix Formulation of Gerrymanders: The Political Interpretation of Eigenfunctions of Connectivity Matrices," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 17(3), pages 269-276, September.
    8. Chambers, Christopher P. & Miller, Alan D., 2013. "Measuring legislative boundaries," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 66(3), pages 268-275.

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