Thread by @nytimes

Every 10 years, a state’s population determines how many seats it gets in Congress. Sometimes, a small number of people can make a big difference. Here’s a look at how many people it can take to change — or almost change — representation in Washington. nyti.ms/2Rb3YtX

The ✨reapportionment process✨ doles out the 435 congressional seats to each of the 50 states. Each state gets a minimum of one seat, but the remaining 385 seats are decided by the Method of Equal Proportions, which weighs the populations of each state. nyti.ms/3ec8UIe

New York lost a seat this year because it was short 89 people, about the number of riders in a subway car.

That’s an extremely small margin for a state that counted more than 20 million people last year. nyti.ms/3ec8UIe

North Carolina gained a seat in 2000. 3,086 people, about the capacity of a basketball arena, made the difference. nyti.ms/3ec8UIe

Minnesota would have lost a seat this year if not for 26 people. That’s about the number of people who can fit in one of the roller coasters at the Mall of America. nyti.ms/3ec8UIe

Oregon would have gained a seat in 1970 if it had counted 231 more people, about the size of a marching band. nyti.ms/3ec8UIe

When the margins are this slim, “people should be cognizant of where apportionment plays a factor in their lives,” said Kimball W. Brace, president of Election Data Services.

Learn more about the reapportionment process: nyti.ms/3ec8UIe