Proposed MMP ballot initiative in Colorado

[New Democracy]

Dear Olli Salmi,

You wrote:
>Not bad. The voters have some say over the party list so I think this is
>better than the New Zealand system.

Don writes: I failed to see that the voters have some say over the party
list. What do you see in the Colorado initiative that gives the voters some
say?

You wrote:
>Why do you use the largest remainder method? It produces erratic results.
>Why not use Sainte-Lague/Webster?

Don writes: The largest remainder is not the best method but it does have
some logic to its use - the largest remainder get the remainder seats.

     You have raised the suggestion of Sainte-Lague before and you have
explained how it works very well and I understand the mechanics of it - but
I do not see the logic of why it should be used. In other words, why is
Sainte-Lague a valid method to use to resolve the remainders?

     It appears to me that these divisor methods are merely simple
mathematical games that we can play for amusement, but without any reason
why they should be used in an election.

     Could you - would you explain why divisors should be allowed to
resolve the remainders?

     The best solution is to allow the voters to rank the parties and then
use Choice Voting(STV) to resolve the remainders.

     I agree with you that the personal ballots should decide the order of
the election. (I am assuming that you mean the order of the candidates on
each party list.)

Donald


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