The documentary "Counted Out" explores the intersection of mathematics, civil rights, and democracy, highlighting how an understanding—or lack thereof—of mathematics affects society's ability to tackle key challenges such as healthcare, climate change, misinformation, and elections.
One of the prominent mathematicians featured in the film is Ismar Volić, a professor at Wellesley College and founder of the Institute for Mathematics and Democracy, who is also a member of BHAAAS. His book, "Making Democracy Count," promoted in Bosnia in June this year, explores how mathematics can improve voting, electoral districts, and representation.
As The New York Times writes, Dr. Volić grew up in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country that endured a difficult war in the early 1990s. In an interview with a NYT journalist, Prof. Volić expresses concern about the erosion of democracy he sees in the United States and worldwide. “This drives me to understand the mechanisms of democracy, its infrastructure, which is very mathematical,” he stated.
When asked how mathematics supports the mechanisms of democracy, Prof. Volić replied:
"This is the other side of the same coin: the mathematics at the foundation, the engine of democracy. Many of our electoral and legislative systems are fundamentally mathematical. Collecting and counting votes, allocating legislative seats, determining the size of legislative bodies, drawing electoral boundaries—all of these are mathematical methods that can be applied in various ways, and mathematics can also tell us which methods are good or bad.”
Prof. Volić also points out that his students are shocked when they learn how our democracy is run on outdated and flawed methods.
"They are disillusioned to find that it’s possible to win the presidency with only 23% of the popular vote, that gerrymandering is rampant, and that the system silences and disenfranchises millions of people. All of this is amplified in the current election as we watch dysfunction unfold in real-time.”
Many students are initially skeptical about the math aspect of the course, but soon declare themselves to be "math people." They become excited upon realizing that democracy can be improved through a purely quantitative approach—not biased, ideological, or political. Understanding this structural level is incredibly empowering, says Prof. Volić.
Director Vicki Abeles, a former Wall Street attorney, was inspired to create the film after observing math anxiety among students, including her teenage daughter, as well as friends and colleagues. She wondered why so many people fear math and what the consequences of that fear might be. The film prompts viewers to reflect on the importance of mathematical literacy for building a fairer society and democracy.
You can read the article published in The New York Times math-documentary-voting-abeles.html
And you can watch the documentary trailer on https://youtu.be/M5a2la9WTtY
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