Eventmath/Lesson plans/Using algebra to explore ranked choice voting in Alaska

Activities
The overall goal is for students to use basic arithmetic and algebra to investigate how the final results of an election using ranked choice (instant runoff) voting depend on the 2nd-place rankings of some voters. As part of this lesson, students will also develop some numeracy and critical-thinking skills by working with large numbers, proportions, and percentages. Moreover, students will develop some quantitative literacy skills by discussing how all of this information is presented in the news media.

Introduction: discuss the results of a specific election from September 2022 in Alaska
The source webpage from NBC News states the final results toward the top of the page: Show the students just these results, while hiding the rest of the page (where the "First-choice results" appear), and ask some questions to get discussion started.
 * M. Peltola: 51.5%: 91,266
 * S. Palin: 48.5%: 86,026

Main task: use algebra to explore that election's results
My idea for this section is for students to use variables to represent the unknown quantities of ballot transfers in the runoff rounds to investigate what the final results of the election could be.

The Wikipedia page 2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election shows the results in more detail than the original NBC News source.

And if it's feasible, it would be interesting to ask students to create flow diagrams for different possible outcomes, like.

Conclusion: summarize and share findings
You may also wish to include helpful materials for an instructor:


 * links to any worksheets, quizzes, or other deliverables
 * solutions to problems posed by the lesson
 * anticipated points of confusion or topics of discussion
 * any other relevant ideas or materials

Assignments
You're welcome to suggest exercises, activities, assignments, or projects based on the material of this lesson.

Resources
(Include these sections at your discretion, keeping in mind that you and others can always edit and add more to these sections later.)

Background
''You're welcome to share links to openly-accessible content (e.g. from Khan Academy, YouTube, Wikiversity, etc.) about domain knowledge or math skills students should have. Likewise, you may wish to include contextual information for the instructor.''

Some possibly helpful resources:
 * The Associated Press has a guide: "EXPLAINER: How ranked choice voting works in Alaska"
 * The *Anchorage Daily News* made a short video: "Alaska ranked choice voting, explained"

Explorations
''You're welcome to share references for additional learning and exploration, such as links to other articles, videos, spreadsheets, or computer code. When an open-access substitute is unavailable, links to paywalled sites are acceptable in this section.''

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