[Election-Methods] Local representation

[Diego Santos]

2008/7/17  <raphfrk at netscape.net>:
> Juho wrote:
>
>> I can see three different local/personal representation concepts here.
>> (just to clarify my thoughts, and maybe help some others too)
>
> I think a better way of breaking down those options would be based on the
> how the seats are allocated.
> The whole regional/national/district issue is separate.  Ofc, for single
> seaters, it has to be district based.
>
> The main issue is the party list vs PR-STV question.  The problem is that a
> party list system breaks
> the link between the candidate and the elected member.  Party members must
> remain loyal to the
> party as the party has all the power.

It is not always true. Open list PR keeps the relation between the
candidate and the voter.

>
>> (under national PR-STV)
>> - the representatives do not know which voters voted for them (the voters
>> can thus
>> contact any representative (that is the name as none:-)) as "their own")
>
> I don't entirely agree. I think the most likely outcome of implementing
> national level PR-STV
> would be that each candidate would set up his home base in a certain area.
> Most of his
> votes would come from people who live near him.  If you live far away, you
> are much less
> likely to be one of his supporters. This is especially true if the ballot
> access rules apply and
> you are outside the area that he appeared on the ballot.
>
> However, even if you didn't vote for him.  He will still likely try to help
> you.  Most people
> with a problem would become a consistant voter for the person who solved it
> for them.  Even if
> it is only 50%, if he helps 100 people, he gets another 50 secure first
> preferences.
>
> Every vote counts so he doesn't care if you are on the other side of the
> country.  However,
> if you are on the other side of the country, then it may be harder for him
> to help as he
> doesn't know as much about the local area (or who to contact about your
> issue) and also
> it might be harder for you to vote for him.
>
> Also, parties will likely split the country up into 'territory' for each of
> their candidates.  So,
> you would be referred to one of the local members of that party.
>
> Each TD in Ireland builds up a 'personal vote' throughout his career.  This
> can be pretty
> significant.  Some popular candidates can achieve around 2 quotas of votes
> due to being
> personally popular.
>
>> Note that the needs of close relationship between a representative and
>> his/her voters
>> regional proportionality and ability to vote without being bound by the
>> party structure
>> or by the districts are all quite separate targets.
>
> I think that PR-STV achieves 2 of them pretty well.  The national level
> proportionality is
> not currently possible due to logistics and also due to larger parties not
> wanting to
> increase the average number of seats per district.
>
>> Note that there is a strong correlation between candidates that some voter
>> votes and the ideology
>> that they represent. It is thus typical that a vote to a candidate is also
>> a vote to the ideology/party
>> that he/she represents. The total freedom of STV-PR to vote any candidates
>> of any party may thus
>> quite often be just a nice option but not very needed (typically just low
>> level of noise in the results).
>> Elected candidates probably work for their party anyway, so one can not
>> get rid of these bindings
>> even if the voters would be allowed to bypass them in their ballot.
>
> Under PR-STV, candidates have a high degree of loyalty to their supporters.
> In Ireland, TDs spend
> alot of time at their local 'clinics' where locals can go talk to them.
> There is also a joke that they spend
> alot of time at funerals too.
>
>> The difference between these two approaches is again "more freedom" vs.
>> "clear groupings"
>> (that keep the ballots simple, help the voters to understand the bindings
>> of all of the candidates,
>> and after the election bind the representatives to their announced
>> policy).
>
> Right, there can come a point where voter overload is a problem.  However, I
> think listing
> local candidates with the option for write ins should keep the burden low
> enough.
>
> Raphfrk
> --------------------
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>
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>
>
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>



-- 
________________________________
Diego Renato dos Santos
Mestrando em Ciência da Computação