Disaggregation method

[spencer-rdh]

Hello! I'm looking to learn about your disaggregation process from precincts to blocks a little more. In your code 00_build_vest.R it looks like you make the block file here at line 77 dec <- build_dec('block', state = state, geometry = FALSE, groups = 'all', year = 2010) for 2010 and then assign the votes down based on the 2010 VAP ratio here (lines 86-89) elec_at_2010 <- elec_at_2010 %>% mutate(!!election := estimate_down( value = vest[[election]], wts = dec[['vap']], group = match_list )).
I wanted to confirm that you do not take intra-Census data into account for the disag process (e.g. for 2018 elections, disaggregting on some sort of 2018 demographic, like a voter file)? As I understand it, you use one ratio per block, dependent on which Census year and demographic are used (in build_dec and estimate_down, respectively). If you do integrate intra-decennial data, please let me know where I could find it in the code!

[christopherkenny]

Yes, you're correct. It's one ratio. There have been thoughts on doing it year-by-year, using the FCC estimates via @CoryMcCartan's blockpop package, but we haven't gone that way.

[spencer-rdh]

Great, was just looking to clarify -- thank you!

[christopherkenny]

No problem!