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integrated computational thinking
Step 1 of 4: Intro

In most elections in the United States, elected officials are voted in by the number of voting districts they win. Voting districts can be as large as a neighboring state or as small as a few blocks in a city.

Below are four different regions divided into voting districts. The green dots represent voters for one party and the yellow dots represent voters for a different party. In order to win an election, the candidate must win more districts than the other.

For each region, think about the following questions.

  • How many voters for the yellow party are in this region?
  • How many voters for the green party are in this region?
  • How many districts will the yellow party win?
  • How many districts will the green party win?

Which party will win the election for this region? (Note: the party with the most districts will win the election)

Region 1

Region#1: divided into three columns of three circles each

Region 2

Region#2: divided into 4 labeled areas of 3 circles each

Region 3

Region#3: divided into three rows and two columns

Region 4

Region#4: divided into three areas of 6 circles; two is boxed

After looking at all four regions, what do you notice about how the districts, not the voters, decide an election?