[EM] STV's Dirty Little Secrets

[donald at mich.com]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10-10-00
Carey Wrote:

    "By simply using ordinary STV there seemingly would have been
a difficult to argue for wastage of 0.087% of the popular vote."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10-25-00
Dear List,
     It is not difficult to argue for wastage of votes or parts of votes
that did not receive any lower choices.  Those parts are exhausted and
should be left exhausted, that is, those parts should not be given to other
candidates.
    Only the voter has the right to decide the lower choices of his vote
and if a voter fails to make lower choices, then so be it.
    We must have the permission of the voter before we can transfer his
vote, or part of his vote, to another candidate.  The voter gives his
permission by making lower choices, if he has not made any lower choices
then he has not given his permission.

    To increase the transfer value in order to also transfer exhausted
votes to unchosen candidates is pure corruption.
    Be aware that this is being done, it's one of STV's Dirty Little Secrets.
    The following is a larger list of STV's Dirty Little Secrets.

    STV's Dirty Little Secrets
     1. The Droop quota
     2. Increasing the transfer value
     3. Small districts
     4. Odd number of seats in small districts
     5. Filling a vacancy by using only the votes that elected the
        vacant member

    STV would be a good election method if it were not for these Dirty
Little Secrets.
    Best to consider MMP for large elections.

Regards, Donald


Post Script:
Carey also wrote: "...councillors that are not male councillors tend to be
women councillors."

Donald: No Comment: