MMP vs STV

[New Democracy]

  -------- Forwarded Message --------

Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1998 13:57:10
Subject: Re: Begin developing strategy

Phil Saxby wrote:
     Comment on STV/diversity.  The reason I personally advocated a list PR
system over STV was because I could see that list systems were more
accurate in reflecting the diversity of voter preferences. Even with a 5%
threshold as in Germany and NZ, you have 5-6 parties represented fairly in
Parliament. Thats *voters* who are being represented.  WIth a lower
threshold, there would have been 7 parties winning seats at the 1996
election in NZ.

    By contrast, STV imposes a higher natural threshold than in any list
system - unless the number of members per constituency is very large - and
it is common for small parties to be underrepresented.  What happens in STV
is that some political conflict must take place within parties which in a
more open system (open to new parties, offering more voter choice) would
take place between different parties.  Certainly STV is far better than a
FPP or single-member preferential vote for opening up diversity and being
fair to voters.  But list systems are better, and the lower the threshold,
the fairer and the more diversity.

     They need time to settle down, of course, after the initial excitement....

Phil Saxby, Electoral Reform Coaltion, New Zealand

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Donald D writes:

     Phil Saxby is correct. As an example consider what Rob Richie of The
Center for Voting and Democracy has been advocating. Rob advocates three
member districts using STV(Droop Quota).

     This will require 25+% of the vote in one district in order to win a
seat. It will be rare for a new party to be able to do this. A new party
can only be expected to gain a few percent in a number of districts.

     As long as the reform people have the mind set to insist on small
districts, some form of MMP would be better than what Rob is advocating.

Regards,
Donald D


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