Mr. Layton asked- Why a quota? Isn't the point of these proxy systems that the whole quota thing is unneccessary (ie, keep eliminating & distributing 'till N candidates left)? To make the ballot papers simpler, could you not have limited (optional) preferences instead of YES/NO, with some kind of instruction 'Write "1" next to your preferred candidate, continue numbering candidates (2,3,4), but number ONLY those candidates whom you consider appropriate for election' ? --- D- Again- one of the very major complaints about p.r. is that some *extreme* p.r. methods permit very small factions (in effect single issue groups) to get seats. Having a quota requirement is one way to limit such anti-p.r. comments (the ballots for the final group of choices failing to get quotas would go the quota winners using the number votes). That is, there is the option of having proxy p.r. with a quota and without a quota. As to the second question- a small group of voters may vote YES only for their choices which ALL may lose. Thus, some or all of such voters may want to vote for additional lesser of evil NO choices using number votes so that such voters have a proxy vote in the legislative body. Any legislator will note if he/she is being elected with YES or NO votes and the place of place votes (1st, 2nd, etc.). Note on proxy voting --- many corporations have proxy voting in shareholders' meetings --- 1 stock share = 1 proxy vote. The proxy idea likewise applies to legislative body meetings---- 1 voter = 1 proxy vote. If ALL of the voters in an area with a large number of voters could assemble and there were a limited number of legislator seats (to represent ALL of the voters), would the voters in the smaller groups move around ??? (noting that *whole* persons would be moving around--- not fractional folks as in some p.r. fractional vote transfer methods). There is also the option of permitting a voter to change his/her proxy vote (with possible new legislators getting chosen --- i.e. a new person could get more proxy votes and replace an incumbent with the lowest number of proxy votes.). Also, new voters (young and move ins) could proxy vote between regular elections. It should be noted that I support annual elections for legislative bodies (and, if necessary, recall elections) in view of the well known observation that long terms produce arrogant legislators (aka *politicians*).
