[EM] Party Seats/ Proxy Proportional Representation System, 1 Apr 2002

[DEMOREP1 at aol.com]

D- The language has been revised.
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Party Seats/ Proxy Proportional Representation System
1 Apr 2002
Demorep1 at aol.com

[optional/ fill the blank]

Sec. 1. (a) The [Name of Legislative Body] shall consist of [T] Total Members 
elected for [1] year terms from [T/5] districts [(dropping fractions)] formed 
at least [36] weeks before an Election day.
(b) As nearly as possible, each district shall consist of 1 or more political 
subdivisions or part of 1 political subdivision, contain an equal number of 
Electors at the last regular election for the body [in an odd/even numbered 
year] and be square.

Sec. 2. Each candidate shall file a nominating petition at least [10] weeks 
before the Election Day signed by at least [0.2] percent [but not more than 
[0.6] percent] of the number of registered Electors in his/her district [36] 
weeks before the Election Day.

Sec. 3. (a) Each candidate shall get a list of all parties in all districts 
at least [14] days prior to an election day.
(b) Independent candidates shall be deemed to be in a party.
(c) Each candidate shall rank all the other parties (using 1, 2, etc.) and 
file such list not later than [4 P.M.] [7] days before the election day.
(d) The lists shall be made public immediately at such deadline.
(e) If a list is not filed, then the votes for the candidate shall not be 
counted.

Sec. 4. (a) Each Elector may vote for 1 candidate in his/her district.
(b) Party Votes = Votes for all of a party's candidates plus any votes 
transferred to the party from losing candidates.
Total Votes = Votes for all candidates.
Member Ratio = Total Votes divided by Total Members
(c) If a party’s Party Votes are less than the Member Ratio, then the party 
and its candidates shall lose (starting with the party with the lowest Party 
Votes).
(d) The votes for a losing candidate shall be transferred (or re-transferred) 
to another party using the candidate's rank order list.
(e) Each party shall receive members equal to the party's final Party Votes 
divided by the Member Ratio (using the Method of Equal Proportions).
(f) A party's Members shall be those party candidates who get the highest 
number of votes in all districts.
(g) Example- 25 Total Members 
Initial Votes
 471  Party A
  99  Party B
 400  Party C
  30  Party D
1000  Total Votes

Member Ratio = 1000 Total Votes/25 Total Members = 40
Party D loses

Final Votes
 481  Party A
 109  Party B
 410  Party C
1000  Total Votes

Party A gets 481/40 = 12.03 = 12 seats
Party B gets 109/40 = 2.73 = 3 seats
Party C gets 410/40 = 10.25 = 10 seats

[(h) Each Member shall have a voting power equal to the party's final Party 
Votes multipled by the votes for him/her divided by the total votes for all 
of the party's elected Members [using the [Method of Equal Proportions]]].

Sec. 5. (a) A candidate or member may file a written rank order list of 
persons to fill his/her vacancy, if any. 
(b) The qualified person highest on the list shall fill the vacancy. 
(c) The legislative body shall fill the vacancy if the preceding does not 
happen.

[Sec. 6. Temporary. The registered Electors on [date] shall be deemed to have 
been Electors at the last election for Section 1(b) for the first election 
using this system].

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Sec. 4(e) Note --- the Method of Equal Proportions would use a formula --- 
(Party Votes x Party Votes) / (Seats x (Seats + 1)) [Seats = 1, 2, etc.] to 
produce a rank order list for seats. 

The MEP is used to apportion the 435 seats in the U.S.A. House of 
Representatives among the 50 States using Census populations of the States 
(after each State gets 1 seat).

Sec. 4(h) Note --- Since Party Votes/ Party Seats ratios are not equal for 
all parties and the various elected candidates of a party will not get the 
same number of district votes, proxy p.r. is more accurate (especially in 
smaller legislative bodies).