Gerrymandering Multi Ridings

DEMOREP1 at aol.com DEMOREP1 at aol.com
Mon Jun 9 14:04:45 PDT 1997


A proxy proportional representation method avoids any quotas and greatly
reduces the ability to gerrymander.
A voter votes 1, 2, etc. for his/her choices.
The candidate with the lowest number of votes loses and has the votes for
him/her transferred to the voter's next choice (if any).
The process is repeated until only N (at least 2) candidates remain (who are
elected). 
Each elected legislator has a voting power in the legislative body equal to
the number of votes he/she finally receives.
 Example-
C = Candidates                   Voting Power
C1        22          = 22                = 23
C2        20          = 20 + 5          = 25
C3        15          = 15 + 3          = 18
C4        12 + 5    = 17                = 17
C5        12 + 1    = 13 -13         =   0
C6        11 + 3    = 14 + 2          = 16
C7         9 - 9     =   0                =   0
VNT       0          =   0  +2          =   2
          100          100                 100
           C7 Loses   C5 Loses
VNT= Votes not transferred

Thus, no quota math to worry about. However, the Droop quota comes into play
by giving an estimate about the size of the lowest minority in a district
that may get a seat.  

In the example with N = 5, the Droop quota is (100/(5 +1)) + 1 or 17.7.  I
prefer N to be 5 to permit such 17.7 percent minorities in any district to be
able to elect a legislator. Most voters would have their votes count
indirectly in the legislative body (pending a direct democracy system in
which each voter is directly a legislator).



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