A note on the matrix formulation of gerrymanders

Eigenfunction analysis provides well-accepted measures of the structure of spatial systems. They have been shown by Wildgen to display appealing properties for the purpose of designing electoral districts consistent with the mandates of contiguity, compactness, community of interest, and equal population. Wildgen's earlier analysis is extended by showing that great versatility can be garnered with attention to a fuller range of eigenvectors. Interpretation of eigenvectors for political engineering is enhanced by integration with a heuristic decision algorithm. Even the objective of equal-population districts can be treated satisfactorily with some adjustments to the basic districting algorithm.