The contains details about the topics of this course and the organization of the course, including grading. The course will be organized as two independent but related modules: Module A will focus on voting technologies and the use of computers to influence elections. Module B will focus on election methods such as plurality, run-off, and ranked-choice methods.
This syllabus presents the weekly topics and assignments. The details of the syllabus and adjustments will be filled in as the course proceeds.
Grading is explained in the course description.
The assignments are due on the day they are listed and the quizzes should be done online on Moodle by the end of the day that they are listed..
The readings refer by author to the following books:
Readings:
A Brief Illustrated History of Voting, Douglas W. Jones (online)
Chaotic Elections, Donald Saari
Other readings will be given as links to web pages.
Quizzes are on Moodle.
Recommended Readings: The History and Politics of Voting, Roy G. Saltman; Election Meltdown, Richard Hasen
There will have weekly discussion papers on the topic for each week, based on the reading for that week.
Each paper should be about two pages.
These will be due 6 pm Sunday evening before the classes for those readings, by email to the instructor.
Class meets Tu-Th, 9:55-11:10 in 315 McGregory
Office: 319B (off the student research lounge at west end) Office hours : Mon 10:30- 12:30, Tuesday 1:00-2:00, Weds 10:30-11:00
date topic reading assignment/quiz
Aug 24 Get syllabus and first assignment: discussion paper 1. Also look at discussion paper 5
Friday 25 Library instruction at Case/Geyer 345 (east side of main floor) with Peter Tagtmeyer
resources: https://libguides.colgate.edu/CORE139 (also under discussion paper 5 below)
Sun 27 Discussion paper week 1 Due
29 History of Voting A Brief Illustrated History of Voting
31 Florida 2000
Sept 3 Discussion paper week 2 Due
5 Voting Equipment Verified Voting (Look under Resources and Verifier) Voting Technology, MIT Labs
7 Auditing Elections National Council of State Legislators H.R.1
10 Discussion paper week 3 Due
12 Helios voting experience Benaloah Talk
Scantegrity
14 Scantegrity and other End-to-End (E2E) voter verifiable methods
17 Discussion paper week 4 - Lab 1 Due
19 Gerrymandering lab: play the gerrymander game before class. Discussion.
What role can computers play? Redistricting methods using computer programs
21 Discussion of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court decisions on Gerrymandering
Supreme court Gerrymandering decision-1 decison-2 MD-map NC-map
PennsylvaniaRedistrictDecision Reasons for PA decision
Harvard Law Review on Redistricting in HR 1
24 Discussion paper week 5 Due Paper topics due -- One paragraph paper proposal
26 Voter fraud cases
28 Are stringent voter ID laws appropriate? Is mail-in Voting OK? Did Trump really win?
Oct 3 Debate prep - meet with each team debate topics debate teams
5 Debate: A government issued photo ID should be required to vote
9/10 Fall Break
12 Debate: Convicted Felons should recover their right to vote after serving their sentence (including probabtion)
13 Mid-term papers due
17 Debate: There should be a Federal law requiring states to use risk-limiting audits for all Federal elections
17 Discussion paper B1 due
19 Nassau County problem -- weighted voting Nassau solution example
18-26 Thanksgiving break
26 No discussion paper -- read over lab 2
28 No Class
30 Chaotic results Saari, ch 3
Dec 1
No Quiz
3 Discussion paper B4 due
5 Strategic voting Saari, ch. 4, Sections 1-4 Agendas FourCandidateExample
7 What voters want? Saari, ch. 5 Review Canceling Ties
8 Quiz 3 on strategic voting and solutions (Saari, ch 4 and 5)
Takehome part of final due on Moodle
Final Exam: Monday, Dec 11, 9:00-11:00
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Office hours : email for a zoom session. Mon 10:30- 12:30, Wednesday 12:30-1:30, Thursday on request. Email to request a zoom session.
