[EM] Who is your representative under Asset Voting?

[Jan Kok]

On Tue, Nov 16, 2010 at 10:10 AM, Abd ul-Rahman Lomax
<abd at lomaxdesign.com> wrote:
> If I'm represented, I want to know exactly who represents me!

Abd, I've heard you say that several times over the years. Why is that
important to you?

> Of all the systems I've seen, only Asset allows this, by creating a public trail
> between my vote and the election of seats.

I would note that:

- If you vote for someone who gets more than the quota, then the
excess votes get passed on to help elect other candidates. So who did
you elect? Who is your representative?

- If you vote for someone who gets less than the quota and has to pass
on his votes, he may split those votes among more than one other
candidate. Again, who did you elect?

- If you vote by secret ballot, then _you_ might know where your vote
went (subject to the above uncertainties), but your representative
won't have any way of knowing if he was elected in part by your vote.

- Suppose you are a Libertarian, but there are not enough Libertarian
voters to elect a Libertarian candidate. Your vote eventually elects a
Democrat or a Republican. Does that candidate "represent" you? I would
say no, or at least, not very well.