[EM] FW: Tasmanian Greens get 21% of first choice votes, 5 seats of 25

[James Gilmour]

Elections in two Australian states have just been held.

In Tasmania, the lower House of Assembly elected by PR-STV has 25 seats in 5 x 5-seat constituencies, so gives good proportional
representation.
See
<http://www.abc.net.au/elections/tas/2010/>
and
http://www.electoral.tas.gov.au>

In South Australia the lower house is elected by "instant runoff" aka "the alternative vote," STV in single seat constituencies, so
with 7.8% of first choice votes the Greens have no seats. It's no more proportional than our first-past-the-post.
<http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2010>

However, the situation in the SA upper house, the Legislative Council, is different. Half its 22 members are elected at a time, and
the whole state is one PR-STV constituency. so with 6.5% of first choices the Greens have one seat.
<http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2010/guide/lc-results.htm>

If you look at the details you see that the Australian Greens are able to run strong women candidates, and with PR-STV proportional
representation, to elect them.

Doug Woodard, St. Catharines, Ontario

Fw by JG

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