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Some Terminology

 

A precinct is a creation of the political world for electoral data. We use Census geographical identifiers, which are roughly hierarchical. Top down, these are state, county, MCD (minor civil division, like a town or city), and VTD (voter tabulation district). (What is confusing is that VTD was once called ``precinct,'' although this ``census precinct'' and the real electoral precincts are not identical.)

MCD Group is our construct. It is smaller than or equal to a county, and (except in California) is greater than or equal to the size of an MCD.




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