[EM] [Election-Methods] [english 94%] PRfavoringracialminorities

[Raph Frank]

On 8/22/08, Kristofer Munsterhjelm <km-elmet at broadpark.no> wrote:
>  Having different amounts of voting power would simplify multiwinner
> election systems considerably. One could, for instance, just do a FPTP count
> and then elect the n highest scoring, giving them voting power equal to the
> share of the total vote they got.
>
>  Still, that doesn't happen, and no assembly is set up that way. Why? Does
> it seem too unfair?

It makes things more difficult in the assembly.  It is much easier to just have
to count the Yes and No members.  With modern technology, it would be easier.
Alot of assemblies have an electronic means for legislators to vote.
The computer
could just add up all the weights.

There are problems with single members have to much power, but that is
covered by putting an upper limit on the allowed power.

A PR-STV count could be run with a max votes allowed (say double the
Droop quota) and then just keep eliminating the lowest candidate until
the correct number of candidates are left and only transfering surplus
above the max votes limit.

This upper limit might not even be needed if candidates are restricted to
one constituency.  In Ireland, getting more than 2 quotas is
extremely rare.

I think keeping the elimination rule is still a good idea
as it allows people vote for outsiders while still allowing their vote to count
for somene who is elected.

If only 2 ranks were allowed, this would allow each constituency to
announce its full results as a 2-d table, while still giving proportionality.

Voters would be recommended to vote for a candidate who is likely
to get elected as their 2nd choice.