I don't like using GNOME desktop or apps, but that's not because its bad or less capable for my usage. I just don't prefer their design philosophies. I'm grateful that it exists nonetheless. Linux desktop users are spoiled by how many great choices we have.
New York City will use ranked choice voting for Primary and Special Elections for the offices of Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President and City Council, due to an amendment in the City Charter approved by voters in 2019.
This appears to say that it is for primaries, not the general election.
You could arrange them that way, but the goal is to find the way to pack the small squares in a way that results in the smallest possible outer square. In the solution shown, the length of one side of the outer square is just a bit smaller than 12. If you pack them normally, the length would be larger than exactly 12. (1 = the length of one side of the smaller squares.)
Not develop their own hardware, but contract an established manufacturer to do it for them. Which is good, they have no business doing hardware!