<div>Latest version of the declaration. As always, feel free to edit <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oyJLxI9dciXBbowM5mougnbGHzkL3Ue1QkD8nnMwWLg/edit?hl=en_US" target="_blank">the google doc</a>.</div><div><br>

</div><div>Stephane: I've added your name as a "signature" to the google doc. You can add your qualifications and/or preferred methods there if you wish.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Other would-be signers: please send your "signature" here on the mailing list, in the following format:</div><div><br></div><div>name; email (obfuscated against spambots if you wish); qualifications; preferred system(s)</div>


<div><br></div><div>Some responses to Dave Ketchum's specific comments are at the bottom of this message.</div><div><br><div style="font-family:Times;font-size:medium;background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:24pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br>


</span></div><div style="font-family:Times;font-size:medium;background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:24pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Declaration of Election-Method Experts and Enthusiasts</span><br>


<span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Contents</span><br>


<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Introduction </span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">- </span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">It is time to change our voting system.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Unfairness of plurality voting</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> - </span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Plurality voting is a bad method that is used far too often.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Better ballots</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> - </span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">With better information from the voters, we can elect better winners.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Fairer counting methods</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> - </span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Together we endorse four voting methods that would give more-democratic results.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Additional considerations</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<p dir="ltr" style="margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Proportional representation</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> - </span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Legislatures should represent all the voters, not just a bare majority.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></p>


<p dir="ltr" style="margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Using the fairer methods in organizations</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> - </span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Private organizations are a great place to start voting reform.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></p>


<p dir="ltr" style="margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Multiple rounds of voting</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> - </span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Good voting methods can reduce the need for primaries and runoffs, or give even-better results when combined with such extra rounds.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></p>


<p dir="ltr" style="margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Separate reforms</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> - </span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Reforming the voting system helps with other democratic reforms.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></p>


<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Benefits for all</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> - </span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Voting reform is truly a win/win solution that will help all political groups.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Taking action</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> - </span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Here is what you can do to help reform voting methods.</span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Introduction</span><span style="font-size:24pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">It is time to change our voting system.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We, the undersigned election-method experts and enthusiasts from around the world, unanimously denounce the use of plurality voting in elections in which there are more than two candidates. In this declaration we offer several ready-to-adopt replacement election methods that we agree will reliably produce much fairer results.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We agree that there are no significant political or economic risks associated with adopting the election methods recommended here. In fact, we believe that improving the fairness of election results will produce substantial political and economic benefits.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We are confident that any of the systems we propose will bring at least the following direct benefits:</span><ul>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dramatically increased voter turnout because voters will have meaningful choices</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Reduced voter frustration</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Improved voice for significant minorities (although they still cannot out-vote the majority)</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Improved understanding of what the majority of voters really want</span></li>


</ul><br><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We expect these additional direct benefits, although the degree of benefit depends on additional factors:</span><ul>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Reduced influence of lobbyists, and increased influence of voters</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Reduced dependence on campaign money in politics</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Healthier political dialogue, with less focus on personal attacks and negative advertising</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Greater accountability, which means that disliked incumbents can be replaced, without having to elect someone from a different party</span></li>


</ul><br><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We also believe that electing more-representative government leaders and making them more accountable could lead to some or all of these broader, indirect benefits:</span><ul>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Freer cooperation between groups that share common interests, with less infighting within coalitions </span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Increased legitimacy of government and more political stability because of truer “majority rule”</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Smaller gap between what voters want and politicians do</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Reduced social conflict</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Less corruption</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Reduced government costs</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Wiser use of tax dollars and natural resources</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Increases in widespread economic prosperity arising from increased fairness</span></li>


</ul><br><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Unfairness of plurality voting</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Plurality voting is a bad method that is used far too often.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We use the term "plurality" voting to refer to the commonly used counting method in which each voter marks only a single choice on the ballot, the number of marks for each candidate are counted, and the candidate with the most marks is regarded as the winner. In some nations this method is called "First Past The Post" (and abbreviated FPTP or FPP). </span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Although plurality voting produces fair results when there are only two candidates, the results are often dramatically unfair when this method is used in elections with three or more candidates.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"Vote splitting" is a key weakness of plurality voting, so it is worth understanding. Vote splitting refers to similar candidates each receiving fewer votes compared to a single opposition candidate, in situations where either similar candidate alone would win over the opposition candidate. It accounts for why, in most democracies, each political party elects a single candidate for each election. If a political party offers two candidates, both of those candidates are likely to lose to a party that offers only one candidate. This happens because that party's voters split their votes between the two candidates, while the winning party concentrates all of their voters' votes on a single candidate. In other words, plurality-based elections often result in the wrong candidate winning.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If voters try to compensate by only voting for either of the two clearly popular choices, the typical result is a two-party system. This narrows the scope of debate and reduces voter choice. With fewer choices it becomes easier for incumbents to become complacent and even corrupt. In a two-party system, additional political parties do not have a fair chance to demonstrate their true support unless other election methods, such as ones explained below, accommodate them. Of course a party without majority support should not win, but neither should it face artificial obstacles that prevent voters from expressing support.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In spite of its well-known weaknesses, plurality voting is far too widely used, especially in the English-speaking world. Often, it seems to be working well, because the system hides its own flaws. But the undercurrent of dissatisfaction and the wide gap between citizens and government saps the strength of the democracy. And there is a constant risk that the next result could be disastrously spoiled by vote-splitting.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Better ballots</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">With better information from the voters, we can elect better winners.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Unanimously we agree that the kind of ballot used in plurality voting — which in this declaration is called a "single-mark” ballot — is not appropriate in governmental elections. Its deficiency is that it does not collect enough preference information from the voters in order to always correctly identify the most popular candidate when there are more than two candidates.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">There are three kinds of ballots that collect enough preference information to always, or almost always, correctly identify the most popular candidate. The names and descriptions of these ballot types are, in alphabetical order:</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><ul>
<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Approval ballot</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, on which a voter marks each candidate who the voter approves as an acceptable choice, and leaves unmarked the candidates who are not acceptable</span></li>


</ul><br><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><ul>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ranked ballot</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (or “1-2-3 ballot”), on which a voter indicates a first choice, and optionally indicates a second choice, and optionally indicates additional choices at lower preference levels</span></li>


</ul><br><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><ul>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Score ballot</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, on which a voter assigns a number or grade for each candidate. The most familiar versions of such voting are to rate something with 1 to 5 stars, or rate a choice with a number from 1 to 10, or to rate each choice at a named grade (such as "excellent", "good", "fair", "poor", or "reject"), but any range of numbers or grades can be used.</span></li>


</ul><br><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Why don’t more people understand the unfairness of plurality voting? Single-mark ballots do not collect enough information to reveal the actual preferences of voters in elections that have three or more reasonably popular candidates. This lack of full preference information makes it difficult for anyone to produce clear proof, or even evidence, of unfair election results.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Adopting any of the three better ballot types would provide the information that is needed for fair results. In addition, comparing the fair results against who would have won if plurality voting had been used will quickly reveal the dramatic unfairness of plurality voting.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Fairer counting methods</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Together we endorse four voting methods that would give more-democratic results.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">These three better ballot types can be counted in different ways to produce different results. We, the undersigned election-method experts and enthusiasts, have both developed and analyzed many counting methods, and we now agree there are several counting methods that are worth adopting in governmental elections.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Here, in alphabetical order, are four counting methods that we agree would produce significantly better results compared to plurality voting, along with the principal advantage claimed by the advocates of each method:</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><ul>
<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Approval voting</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, which uses approval ballots and identifies the candidate with the most approval marks as the winner.</span></li>


</ul><br><p dir="ltr" style="margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Advantage</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">: It is the simplest election method to collect preferences (either on ballots or with a show of hands) and the simplest method (besides plurality) to count and explain. Its simplicity makes it a good first step toward any of the other methods.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></p>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><ul>
<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Any of the </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Condorcet methods</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, which use ranked ballots, and which use "pairwise counting" to count how many voters prefer each candidate compared to each other candidate, and which identify as the "Condorcet winner" the candidate who is pairwise preferred over each and every other candidate. In a few elections there is no Condorcet winner, and different Condorcet methods use different rules to resolve such cases, although even then the results are often the same. Some good Condorcet methods are: Condorcet-Approval, Condorcet-IRV, Condorcet-Kemeny, and Condorcet-Schulze. (The word Condorcet is a French name that is pronounced "kon-dor-say".)</span></li>


</ul><br><p dir="ltr" style="margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Advantage</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">: Condorcet methods provide what many people see as the fairest results in the common cases where there is a Condorcet winner.</span></p>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><ul>
<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Majority judgment</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, which uses score ballots to collect the fullest preference information, and elects the candidate who gets the best score from half or more of the voters. More specifically, the best median score wins. This system is a form of Bucklin voting, which is a general class of methods that has been used for city elections in both 18th-century Switzerland and the 20th-century United States.</span></li>


</ul><br><p dir="ltr" style="margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Advantage</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">: Majority Judgment counts ballots in a way that reduces the incentives for strategic voting, so it is arguably the best system for finding out how the voters feel about each candidate on an absolute scale, not just as better or worse than other candidates.</span></p>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><ul>
<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Range voting</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (also known as score voting), which also uses score ballots, and adds together the scores assigned to each candidate, and identifies the winner as the candidate who receives the highest total score.</span></li>


</ul><br><p dir="ltr" style="margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Advantage</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">: Range voting comes closest to the mathematically-defined "best" overall results for voter satisfaction if voters vote sincerely. It gives the same reasonable results as Approval voting if every voter votes strategically.</span></p>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">There is another counting method that is supported by some, but not most, of the undersigned election-method experts. It is called "instant-runoff voting" (or "IRV" or "the alternative vote"), and it uses ranked ballots. The counting method begins by considering each voter's highest-ranked choice, and eliminating the candidate with the fewest votes, and then shifting the affected ballots to the next-most preferred candidate, and repeating this process until a candidate receives a majority of votes. The main advantage of instant-runoff counting is that it is easy for many people to understand, especially because the counting process is similar to the familiar process of runoff elections.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Instant-runoff voting is used in some governmental elections throughout the world, and most of us agree that usually the results are an improvement over plurality voting. However, many of us either regard the degree of improvement as not being significant enough to justify adopting this method, or are concerned that its not-always-fair results will be associated with ranked ballots rather than with the instant-runoff counting method.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Significantly some of the places that have adopted instant-runoff voting have later rejected the method and returned to plurality voting. In the United States, these places include Aspen, Colorado and Burlington, Vermont. The rejections occurred because the official IRV winner was not the same as the Condorcet winner.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Advocates of instant-runoff counting point out that IRV has an advantageous voting characteristic that is missing from any of our supported counting methods. This characteristic (which is called “Later No Harm”) is that it does not give any advantage to voters who use a voting strategy of not ranking all the candidates. Although some of us agree that “Later No Harm” is a desirable characteristic, none of us think that it is necessary, or that the systems endorsed here are unacceptable for lacking it. Even in a system without this characteristic, enough voters will mark an extra approved candidate (on an approval ballot) or lower preferences (on a ranked or score ballot) to improve over the Plurality results. After all, under plurality voting many voters go even further than that, demonstrating a willingness to “betray” their true favorite by casting a strategic vote for a “lesser evil”.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Most of us agree that the two advantages of IRV do not outweigh its major disadvantage, which is that it fails to correctly identify the most popular candidate in many elections.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Looking into the future, there may be additional, newly developed methods that we support in the future, but they require further analysis. One such election method that shows promise is Simple Optionally-Delegated Approval (SODA) voting, which combines approval voting with vote delegation to make the voter’s task as simple as possible.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The choice of counting method determines which kind of ballot is needed. Each of the ballot types can be implemented on paper ballots, and these ballots can be scanned optically and counted by computer. All the ballot types also can be counted manually if needed, which is significant because most of us also support making government elections trustworthy through the use of voter-verifiable paper ballots.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">To appreciate the importance of the few election methods we support, consider that there are many other election methods and voting methods, plus combinations of them, that we do not endorse. In fact, for some of them we unanimously agree to oppose their use in governmental elections.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Why do we not support a single "best" election method? Different election-method experts place different degrees of importance on the relative advantages and disadvantages of each method. In the list of signatures some of us indicate which voting method we most-strongly prefer. It bears repeating, though, that despite our disagreements, we would not hesitate to support any of these methods over plurality voting.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The following Wikipedia articles provide detailed descriptions and characteristics of our supported methods:</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><ul>
<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Approval voting</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Condorcet method</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Majority Judgment</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Range voting</span></li>


</ul><br><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Some of us signing this statement edit these Wikipedia articles to keep them accurate and unbiased. Also, many of us participate in the "Election-Methods" forum at </span><a href="http://www.electorama.com/em" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 153);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">www.electorama.com/em</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, and we would be happy to answer your questions about any of these methods.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Additional considerations</span><br>


<span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Proportional representation</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Legislatures should represent all the voters, not just a bare majority.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">So far, all of the above recommendations apply to identifying a single winner, so they are known as "single-winner" election methods. These single-winner methods are ideally suited for electing mayors and governors. When used in non-governmental organizations, these single-winner methods are ideally suited for electing a president, treasurer, and secretary.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Different considerations apply if an election fills a legislative seat, such as a seat in a legislature, congress, or parliament. In Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the typical method for filling a legislative seat is to define a district or riding in which plurality voting is used to elect one person who is expected to represent the citizens in that district or riding.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">All of us signing this declaration agree that plurality voting is not acceptable as an election method for filling a single district-based or riding-based legislative seat. All of us would support using any of the single-winner methods endorsed above, as an improvement over using plurality voting to fill a district-based or riding-based legislative seat.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Most of us agree that an even better choice would be to adopt an election method in which the choice of who wins one legislative seat interacts with who wins another equivalent seat in ways that give at least somewhat proportional representation to most voters.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The best-known approach, which is used in many countries in Europe and elsewhere, is party-based proportional representation. Such methods ask voters to indicate their favorite political party, and then make adjustments to ensure that the percentage of legislative seats filled by members of each party roughly matches the percentage of voters who support each party. In other words, if 15% of the voters marked the Silver Party as their favorite, then approximately 15% of the parliamentary seats would be filled by Silver Party politicians.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Proportional representation provides a number of advantages that we agree are important, including:</span><ul>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The legislature better reflects the makeup of the population. </span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">It essentially eliminates the effects of "gerrymandering," which is a political manipulation of district or riding boundaries for the purpose of favoring a specific political party or incumbent.</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Without proportional representation, gerrymandering and other factors can lead to more than 90% of officeholders being re-elected, and as many as 98% in some cases. These foregone conclusions reduce turnout.</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Effective proportional representation ensures representation for almost all voters, rather than just slightly more than half, in that their votes end up helping some representative win.</span></li>


</ul><br><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Almost all of us agree that where proportional representation (PR) is used, the "open-list" versions or the “candidate-centric” versions, not the "closed-list" versions, should be used. We oppose the closed-list versions because they disregard candidate-specific voter preferences, and transfer power to people who are not elected, and who cannot easily be removed from their position of power.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">There are many good versions of proportional representation, but we are not yet expressing support for any specific version because the best choice depends on the situation and goals.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Using the fairer methods in organizations</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Private organizations are a great place to start voting reform.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">These better voting methods are not just useful for public elections. They also can be used to elect a private organization's officers, to elect corporate board members, to make voting-based group decisions, and to elect delegates to political-party conventions. In addition to increasing the fairness of such elections and decisions, these uses will increase the number of people who realize that plurality voting is very unfair, and help them learn how to achieve much fairer results.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Keep in mind that all four of our recommended election methods already have been used to elect officers in non-governmental organizations, and the fairer results have been widely appreciated (except by some incumbents who were not reelected).</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If an organization uses rules that require plurality voting, or follows Roberts Rules of Order, we encourage the organization to amend its rules to accommodate one or more of our supported election methods. If the organization cannot decide which method to adopt, the revised rules can allow the presiding organization's officers to choose which of our supported methods will be used in the next election.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Our recommended election methods also can be used by any group of people to make single-choice decisions, such as choosing a new logo, choosing a time or date for an event, and choosing a restaurant for a gathering.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The nomination process of a political party can use any of our supported voting methods to better identify the candidates who are really the strongest, and therefore have the best chance of winning the election. This fairer primary-nomination process may reduce intra-party attacks, increase party unity, attract more voters, and boost enthusiasm for the party’s nominees.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Multiple rounds of voting</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Good voting methods can reduce the need for primaries and runoffs, or give even-better results when combined with such extra rounds.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Current elections commonly use multiple rounds of voting. This includes both “primary elections” to narrow the number of choices prior to the main vote, and second-round “runoff elections” to ensure a majority if one is not obtained in the main first round.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">These extra rounds, which can serve several purposes, are essential with plurality voting because that method only really works when there are just two main candidates.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Some of us believe that improved voting methods require only one round of voting. Others of us believe that multiple rounds are still useful because they serve to focus attention on the candidates in the runoff round, without distraction from the less-popular candidates. Yet all of us agree that plurality voting should never be used in any round with more than two candidates.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">When choosing which candidates deserve to progress to a runoff election, we do not offer specific recommendations for interpreting results – beyond obviously including the most popular candidate. There are various possibilities for how to choose the second, third, and additional candidates, and the best approach would depend on which of our supported methods is used (in the earlier round), and other details. This issue is similar to the question of how to increase proportional representation.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Regardless of whether our supported election methods are used with or without runoff elections, the results will be much fairer than what can be achieved using plurality voting with multiple voting rounds.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Separate reforms</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Reforming the voting system helps with other democratic reforms.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Nothing in this statement should be interpreted to imply that we believe that election-method reform is the only area of existing political systems that currently needs reform. In fact, most of us also support other reforms such as broader campaign-finance-reporting rules, increased use of other decision-making aids such as deliberative polling, and clearer ethics rules for officeholders. We believe that the election-method reforms we advocate here would be synergistic with such other reforms, both in terms of easing their adoption and multiplying their beneficial effects.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Benefits for all</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Voting reform is truly a win/win solution that will help all political groups.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We, as election-method experts and enthusiasts, have spent the last decade developing online resources about election methods, developing software for the election methods we support, and now we have reached agreement as to which election methods are worth adopting as replacements for plurality voting. Through this declaration we are sharing our recommendations. We also offer to share our deep understanding of election methods with policymakers and politically active citizens of any nation, state, province, municipality, or political party.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Those of us signing this declaration proudly stand at widely separate points on the political spectrum. When we vote, we know that many of us will be strongly supporting opposite sides. And even in discussing voting systems, we have our disagreements. Yet we respect each other’s common interests in wanting to move beyond plurality voting in search of a healthier democracy. In signing this statement, and in supporting a variety of different methods, we are looking beyond narrow, partisan interests. We seek to support the common good. In fact we are unanimous in sincerely believing there are no good reasons to oppose election-method reform.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Politics is often viewed as a “zero-sum game” in which one side can gain only if another side loses. In contrast, we view election-method reform as taking the next step up the ladder of democracy; just as democracy has proven to be much better than dictatorships, higher levels of democracy will help us reach even higher standards of living for almost everyone. We do not pretend to offer a utopia, where conflicts of interest disappear and everyone is a winner. We simply believe that even a political group that loses an election can benefit from healthier dialogue and elected officials who better represent the voters.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Thus, we believe that better election methods will help all political groups: both left and right, both business and labor, both incumbents and upstart campaigners, both centrists and extremists. Even special interests who currently donate large campaign contributions will benefit from a more robust and sustainable economy. And most politicians will appreciate it if we cut the puppet strings that connect them to their biggest campaign contributors. We believe that every political group can benefit in very concrete and specific ways, and we are available to discuss how and why for each case.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Taking action</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Here is what you can do to help reform voting methods.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We address this statement to all citizens, and especially to those who are aware of any of the many benefits that election-method reforms will bring. To people in specific situations we offer the following words of encouragement:</span><ul>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If you are a policymaker, you can reduce the negative attacks and the need to constantly fundraise. We strongly urge you to introduce legislation that would adopt one of the election methods we support.</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If you are active in a political party that uses plurality voting, you can increase your party’s chances of winning in the main election by nominating more-electable candidates in a way that encourages participation and debate, not unproductive conflict. We strongly urge you to encourage the use of a better voting method to choose your party's candidates and your party's internally elected delegates.</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If you feel that “your” political party wants your vote and your money, but doesn’t care about your political priorities, there is a way for your favorite issues to get the attention they deserve. We strongly urge you to tell those who share your political views how the fairer election methods supported in this declaration can help you come together as a force to be reckoned with, while still cooperating with other groups to fight against ideas you consider dangerous.</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If you don’t identify with any of the main political parties, there is a way you can start to have real choices at the ballot box. We strongly urge you to learn about one or more of the election methods we support, and then tell others what you have learned.</span></li>


<li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If you are a member of an organization that elects officers using plurality voting, this is a chance to help your organization run more smoothly. We strongly urge you to advocate using one of the recommended election methods when an election involves more than two candidates.</span></li>


</ul><br><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">At the very least, please help the world by eliminating the primitive voting method known as plurality voting.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The highest priority of this declaration is to stop the use of plurality voting in governmental elections, which should always accommodate more than two candidates. The widespread availability of computers now makes it easy to adopt any of the better election methods we support.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Finally, please educate others that if voters can only indicate a single, first choice on their ballot, then the choice with the most plurality votes is not necessarily the most popular, and the choice with the fewest plurality votes is not necessarily the least popular.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We, the following election-method experts and enthusiasts, agree with the statements made in this declaration.</span><br>


<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br>
</div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Responses to DK's comments below:<br><br>2011/9/5 Dave Ketchum <<a href="mailto:davek@clarityconnect.com" target="_blank">davek@clarityconnect.com</a>><br>><br>> I finally got around to a bit.<br>




> I see both Judgment and Judgement - can one be a typo?<div>

<br></div><div>"Judgment" is how B+L, the method proposers, spell it. Fixed.</div><div><br>><br>> Declaration of Election-Method Experts and Enthusiasts<br>> Contents<br>><br>> When there is a list of items, some taking more than one line, something, such as indentation, should show start of each item.</div>




<div><br></div><div>That's good now, I'm not sure what you were seeing.</div><div><br>

> I see Enthusiasts here - Should also go with Experts below.</div><div><br></div><div>Fixed.</div><div><br>><br>> Introduction<br>> It is time to change our voting system.<br>><br>> We, the undersigned election-method experts and enthusiasts from around the world, unanimously denounce the use of plurality voting in elections in which there are more than two candidates. In this declaration we offer several ready-to-adopt replacement election methods that we agree will reliably produce much fairer results.<br>






><br>> Proper question is whether there MAY be more than two candidates:<br>> .     There will never be more than two - so election method does not matter.<br>> .     When there are more, voters can wish to vote against the worst by voting for more than one - impossible with plurality.<br>






> .     We cannot be bothered with this need - how bad this is depends on value of the election.<br>> Part of selling against plurality:<br>> .     Wherever current experience is that runoffs are rarely needed and there is very little voting for other than the two main candidates, deciders may feel that there is no need for preparing for what has never happened to them.<br>






> .     Even with that normality, there can be times when voting for others happens in significant numbers.  We need to alert deciders that this can happen in any district and this is what needs preparing for even if they are used to things staying simpler.</div>




<div><br></div><div>I think I've integrated your ideas.</div><div><br>

><br>> Better ballots<br>> With better information from the voters, we can find better winners.<br>><br>> Approval gives nothing but ability to vote for more than one.<br>> All the others provide for voters indicating which of the candidates they vote for are also their most preferred.<br>






> Also, while Condorcet ranking unconditionally says that higher ranks are better than lower, there is nothing requiring or permitting saying how much higher.<br>> The other methods, depending on statements as to how much higher a ranked candidate may be, require that the voter indicate magnitude in the vote.<br>






><br>> Fairer counting methods<br>><br>> Condorcet:<br>> .     It is an approach to a tie that CAN result in those leading candidates needing some extra analysis to decide on a winner.<br>> .     The n*n matrix used in Condorcet has information useful to those wanting to learn more about relationship of candidates.<br>






><br>> There are three Condorcet methods that identify the Condorcet winner (when there is one) without explicitly looking for the Condorcet winner, and they are, in alphabetical order:<br>><br>> I claim that, if there is one, the CW should be found and, at our distance, we do not need to check on how the method goes about that.<br>






> Even if there is no CW, the n*n matrix used to look for the CW is the obvious source for deciding on a winner - which points toward using n*n for this analysis.<br>> I have not chased down the innards of using IRV here, but wonder if, as used here, it is immune to the problems that afflicted IRV in  Burlington.<br>






> Anyway, I ask that IRV discussion stay out of the Condorcet discussion - seems like there were, earlier, better words about IRV than I see here.<br>> Also, seems like SODA should be kept away from Condorcet.<br>><br>






> In<br>><br>> Using the fairer methods in organizations<br>> Private organizations are a great place to start voting reform.<br>><br>><br>> One particularly relevant example of a “private” election is the nomination process of a political party. It is true that our supported methods make this process less important, because, unlike plurality, they do not break down when more than one candidate from a party is running. Still, we expect that many parties would still want to have a formal nomination (“primary election”) process so as to focus their efforts on one or two candidates per office. We believe that any party using a superior voting system internally will see immediate benefits. A primary process with increased turnout, with fewer negative attacks, and with a more-democratic result will result in a stronger nominee who is better-prepared to win in the general election.<br>






><br>> This presumably is true in some states.  In New York parties do not do elections.  Primaries, done by government for the parties, handle both primary elections AND electing party officers.</div><div><br></div>




<div>We don't mention that; I think the statement should remain general.</div><div><br></div><div>JQ</div>