The simulation mode chooses the kind of analysis to do. Either do one election and see more detail or many and get summary stats.
Election
Win Density
Dimensions:
Set the number of dimensions for policy space. Policy space is where voters make decisions on which candidates to elect. Voters like candidates closer to them. Also, the way this simulation is organized, the 1D position of a candidate or voter is independent from their 2D position. This sim uses just one or the other.
1D
2D
Sampling Seed:
The sampling seed can either be constant or random. Setting the seed to random means every time the sampler starts, it will choose a random sampling seed. The seed is used to sample the same candidates each time, no matter if the other settings change. The only way things would be different is if the size of the candidate distributions change or if the number of candidate distributions change.
Random
Constant
Number of Census Tracts:
Tracts add some geography into the election. Tracts are the pixels of the geography. Voters live in tracts. In each tract, the voters are moved in policy space according to a random algorithm called simplex noise. The main feature is that neighboring tracts are similar to each other. This options sets the number of tracts along one axis.
1
9
Number of Districts:
Districts are one way to try to introduce proprtionality into an election. Districts are drawn across tracts. Elections results are summed across the districts. Each district has one or more winners.
1
9
Election Sequence:
An election may be composed of phases of casting votes and determining winners. A primary may be closed or open. A closed primary only allows voters of a party to vote. A nonpartisan open primary allows any voter to vote for any candidate. A general follows the primary.
General
Closed P
Nonp Open P
Social Choice Method for General Phase:
The method of choosing winners from a set of prospective candidates.
Plurality
Rand Cand
Huntington
Score
STV
Minimax
OLPR A
d'Hondt
Sainte-Lague
AllocScore
MES
Rand Vote
SNTV
Social Choice Method for Closed Primary Phase:
The method of choosing winners from a set of prospective candidates.
Plurality
Rand Cand
Huntington
Score
STV
Minimax
OLPR A
d'Hondt
Sainte-Lague
AllocScore
MES
Rand Vote
SNTV
Social Choice Method for General Phase:
The method of choosing winners from a set of prospective candidates.
Plurality
Rand Cand
Huntington
Score
STV
Minimax
OLPR A
d'Hondt
Sainte-Lague
AllocScore
MES
Rand Vote
SNTV
Social Choice Method for Nonpartisan Open Primary Phase:
The method of choosing winners from a set of prospective candidates.
Plurality
Rand Cand
Huntington
Score
STV
Minimax
OLPR A
d'Hondt
Sainte-Lague
AllocScore
MES
Rand Vote
SNTV
Social Choice Method for General Phase:
The method of choosing winners from a set of prospective candidates.
Plurality
Rand Cand
Huntington
Score
STV
Minimax
OLPR A
d'Hondt
Sainte-Lague
AllocScore
MES
Rand Vote
SNTV
Theme:
Light
Dark
Sim Controls:
Elections with both geographic components and sequence components are not yet implemented. Change number of districts to 1 and number of tracts to 1 or change election sequence to general.