[EM] Theoretical Gerrymandering Solution

[matt at tidalwave.net]

>If we had to redistrict a rectangular state, such as Wyoming, it seems to
me >that might be a reasonable possible solution. However, I am concerned
about >irregular states, such as, say, Wisconsin, which includes a lot of
squiggly >border lines and even some islands. I don't even know if this
is a >mathematically solvable problem. What do you think?

>Steve Barney

It is not mathematically solvable and it arguably doesn't need to be. 
There are optimization heuristics that will find reasonably "good" results
in a reasonable amount of time.  Furthermore, since re-districting occurs
(or should occur) only once every ten years, there can be a public contest
open to universities, business, individuals, etc. that gives a reward to
whoever obtains the smallest sum (ties could be broken by giving the award
to the contestant who first submitted the smallest sum).