On Sat, Oct 31, 2009 at 4:17 PM, Kathy Dopp <[email protected]> wrote: > I believe that you misunderstood what I was saying below. It is the > relative *number* of candidates who run for office relative to the > number of the voters they represent compared to the same ratio for all > other candidates that determines whether or not STV achieves > proportional representation. I.e. STV is subject to vote splitting or > insufficient candidates running to represent any group of voters.
Vote splitting is not a major issue with PR-STV. (it is also less of an issue with IRV than it is with plurality). There can be some tactics required due to the fact that voters don't always vote based on party. If a party has 20%+ of the support in a 4 seater, it will get 1 seat. (Assuming that the voters rank all the party's candidates as the top ranks). As for insufficient candidates, well if a party doesn't run enough candidates, then it is their own fault. It can be a problem where an incumbent doesn't want a 2nd candidate from the party running, in case the 2nd candidate ends up winning a seat. ---- Election-Methods mailing list - see http://electorama.com/em for list info
