[EM] Request for opinion

[James Gilmour]

Robertas
Without doubt, STV-PR is likely to be the best voting system to deal with
the problems you describe in Lithuania.
STV-PR puts the power in the hands of the voters rather than in the hands of
the parties.
STV-PR encourages collaboration rather than fragmentation.
STV-PR treats all candidates alike, party nominees or independents.

Interesting, reformers and opponents of reform are prepared to accept large
districts for party list PR systems, but seems to think STV-PR must be
implemented in small districts.  This is nonsense.  However, the law of
diminishing returns applies to representation as districts are made
progressively larger (elect more members together), so there is little
practical advantage in having, say, 25-member districts with STV-PR.

When STV-PR was re-introduced for local government elections in Northern
Ireland in 1973, the minimum size was set at 4 members and the maximum size
set at 8 members, with 5, 6 or to be regarded as the desirable number.

When STV-PR was used to elect the Scottish Education Authorities in the
1920s, the districts returned from 3  members to 10 members.  This
flexibility was used to allow district boundaries to follow the boundaries
of existing communities rather than dividing them artificially.

I can supply lots more detail if you want.

James