Dean asked
> David, please explain how single transferable vote works.
I'll give this a try...using Douglas Amy's "Proportional representation: the
case for a better election system" as my guide.
This method is also known as The Preference Vote or the Hare system. It was the
Proportional Representation system used by several cities (including Hopkins MN)
during the first half of the century and is still used in Cambridge, Mass.
today. It is great for "non-partison" elections, like our city offices.
First (like other forms of Prop. Rep) officials are elected from multi-member
districts or wards. All the candidates are listed on the ballot. The voter
ranks each candidate in order of preference, or could just vote for one as they
do today. First choices are marked "1" second choice "2" etc.
The counting is a bit more complicated, but works essentially like instant run
off voting except instead of looking for a majority, what is needed is a minimum
threshold.
First, before counting ballots, the minimum number of votes needed to win a seat
is determined. This is called the "threshold." The threshold will depend on
the total number of voters and the number of seats to be filled. It is usually
based on the total number of voters divided by the number of seats to be filled
plus one. So if there were 13 seats, a candidate would need 1/14th of the vote
to be elected.
When determine the winners, first all the number one choices are counted. If a
candidate gets the threshold he or she is declared elected. If all seats are not
filled during the first count then a ballot transfer occurs. For example, the
last place candidate (the one with the fewest first choice votes) is eliminated
and her or his ballots are transferred to the second choice candidate on those
ballots. The ballots are then recounted to see if anyone has now reached the
threshold. This process continues until all the seats are filled.
In this way voters are assured that their vote is not wasted even if their first
choice candidate doesn't win.
There are other ways used to transfer votes, and the Greens are proposing one
with some slight variations to this, but this one is easy to understand and is
also the one I found in my handy reference book.
for more on proportional representation you may want to see:
PR Library: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/polit/damy/prlib.htm
FairVote Minnesota: http://www2.bitstream.net/~gabeo/fvhome.html
The Center for Voting & Democracy -- http://www.fairvote.org
I hope this is helpful,
Cam Gordon
Candidate for Minneapolis City Council,
Ward 2
914 Franklin Terrace
Mpls. MN 55406-1101
(612) 332-6210
http://www.camgordon.org
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