Modified Divisor Methods

example

one

modified divisor d

78.4

apportionment method

Webster

Jefferson

Adams

Huntington-Hill

Apportion 20 seats using Webster

State	Population	Standard quota	Modified quota	Apportioned seats
A	310	4.052	3.95408	4
B	320	4.183	4.08163	4
C	440	5.752	5.61224	6
D	460	6.013	5.86735	6
Total	1530	20		20

Standard quota

Apportioned seats

Apportionment involves dividing discrete objects among various groups according to some plan. For example, congressional seats are apportioned among the various states based on their populations. In modified divisor methods, the apportionment plan is to find a modified divisor

d

so that, when each state population is divided by

d

and rounded to a whole number, the rounded values add up to the correct number of seats.

Adjust the value of the modified divisor

d

to get the correct total number of seats. Compare the apportionments from the different methods, paying attention to the effect on large versus small population states.