[EM] Party Seats/ Proxy Proportional Representation Method, 8 Apr 2002

[DEMOREP1 at aol.com]

Party Seats/ Proxy Proportional Representation Method, 8 Apr 2002
Demorep1 at aol.com

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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 contain an equal number of 
Electors (plus or minus 1 percent) at the last regular [state] election [in 
an even numbered year], consist of 1 or more political subdivisions and/or 
parts of 1 or 2 political subdivisions 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) Definitions. Party Votes is the Votes for all of a party's candidates 
plus any votes transferred to the party from losing candidates. Total Votes 
is the Votes for all candidates.
(c) If a party’s Party Votes are less than the Total Votes divided by the 
Total Members, 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 losing candidate's rank order list.
(e) Each party shall receive members equal to the Total Members multiplied by 
the party's final Party Votes divided by the Total Votes (using the Method of 
Equal Proportions for fractions).
(f) A party's Members shall be the party’s candidates who get the highest 
number of votes in all districts.
[(g) Each Member shall have a voting power equal to the party's final Party 
Votes multipled by the Member’s votes divided by the total votes for all of 
the party's elected Members (using the Method of Equal Proportions for 
fractions).]

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 on 
[date]].

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Sec. 4. Example-

25 Total Members 
Initial Votes
 471  Party A
  99  Party B
 400  Party C
  30  Party D
1000  Total Votes

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

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

Party A gets 481 x 25 / 1000 = 12.03 = 12 seats
Party B gets 109 x 25 / 1000 =   2.73 = 3 seats
Party C gets 410 x 25 / 1000 = 10.25 = 10 seats

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 due to fractions. 

In most cases if a fraction was over 0.50, then the Seats would be the next 
highest number.

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 Votes/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).

The Method of Equal Proportions would use a formula ---

(Member District Votes x Member District Votes) / (Voting Power x (Voting 
Power + 1)) [Voting power = 1, 2, etc.] 

to produce a rank order list for the Voting Powers due to fractions.

In most cases if a fraction was over 0.50, then the voting power would be the 
next highest number.

Example- Member A1 gets 26 votes in his/her district. 
All 12 Party A members get 329 votes in their districts.

Member A1 has a voting power of 481 x 26 / 329 = 38.01 = 38