Bill Hooper wrote:
If
someone who knows has the time to explain, I'd like to know what these systems
are.
1. "crude system" used in Westminster elections. (and what is a "Westminster election"?)
2. PR system (List System version")
3. List system (Single Transferable Vote version)
1. "crude system" used in Westminster elections. (and what is a "Westminster election"?)
2. PR system (List System version")
3. List system (Single Transferable Vote version)
1.
Stephen is referring to the national elections. Westminster is a reference to
the location of the British House of Commons (sometimes referred to as the
"Parliament at Westminster"). As with congressional elections, the candidate
with the plurality in his/her constituency wins.
2.
PR is proportional representation, where parties are represented in parliament
(i.e., by MPs), according to some formula, in proportion to the aggregate votes
for candidates of those parties -- rather than having a candidate-by-candidate
winner-take-all system. Some countries use a mixture of the
two.
3. I
think Stephen's referring to instant runoff elections, such as in the Australian
system. The voter lists his/her preferences in order of choice. The second
choice is used only if the first choice is eliminated as a result of getting the
lowest number of votes. The second choice could similarly be eliminated, and so
on. The process ensures that the winner has a majority, not just a plurality. If
Nader voters could have named Gore as their second choice in the Florida
election in 2000, Gore would have won. (In theory, of course, some Nader voters
could have named Bush as their second choice.)
Bill Potts, CMS
Roseville,
CA
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