[EM] Proposed bullet-voting prohibition criterion

[Juho Laatu]

On 3.2.2013, at 13.13, Kristofer Munsterhjelm wrote:

> On 01/30/2013 05:30 PM, Peter Gustafsson wrote:
>> 
>> Kristoffer:
>> 
>> Thanks for pointing out those possibilities for how a big party can
>> instruct its voters on how to thwart the intent of this proposed
>> criterion. Obviously, BVP is not sufficient to ensure the transition
>> from a two-party environment to a multiparty environment. What are your
>> ideas on how make a stronger set of criteria to that end?
> 
> ...

One approach to this problem is that Proportional Representation is actually the criteron that defines multiparty systems (or at least the typical ones). This criterion may however not be a practical requirement in a two-party country since a jump to a PR system would be a very long jump. However, also two-party systems approximate PR roughly. One could therefore start from small steps like requiring more accurate PR for the leading two parties in those bodies where both parties are represented. After that a natural step might be to allow also some major third party to get some seats in areas where it is strong. And eventually one might in theory end up having PR for all opinion groups (or at least all those that have at least one quota of supporters).

In some sense plurality allows those parties that have >50% support to have seats while a good PR system allows all parties with at least one quota of support to have one seat. Single member districts are maybe the key problem and strong legacy that makes and keeps two-party systems two-party systems. It may be that a multiparty system that is based on single member districts is not viable (or does not properly meet the "multiparty environment" requirement). So, maybe one would have to break the single seat district tradition at some point in time. That's not an easy thing to do.

One more important trick might be to start the changes from smaller units like towns. I'm sure there must be one or two towns that would be interested in giving the multiparty approach try. If such trials are suucessful, that wolud surely influence thinking and decisions also at the higher levels.

Juho