Electoral system: Difference between revisions

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'''Voting systems''' or '''election methods''' are methods for groups of people to select one or more options from many, taking into account the individual preferences of the group members. Voting is often seen as the defining feature of democracy, and is best known for its use in elections — but it can also be used to award prizes, to select between different plans of action, or as a means for computer programs to evaluate which solution is best for a complex problem.

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[[File:Voting system Euler diagram.svg|thumb|Several of the popular voting methods, categorized by their important properties]]

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== Aspects of voting systems ==

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=== The ballot ===

Different voting systems have different forms for allowing the individual to express their [[tolerances versus preferences|tolerances or preferences]]. In [[ranked ballot]] or "preference" voting systems, like [[~~Instant~~-runoff voting]], the [[Borda count]], or a [[Condorcet method]], voters order the list of options from most to least preferred. In [[range voting]], voters rate each option separately. In [[first-past-the-post]] (also known as plurality voting), voters select only one option, while in [[approval voting]], they can select as many as they want. In voting systems that allow [[plumping]], like [[cumulative voting]], voters may vote for the same candidate multiple times.

Different voting systems have different forms for allowing the individual to express their [[tolerances versus preferences|tolerances or preferences]]. In [[ranked ballot]] or "preference" voting systems, like [[instant-runoff voting]], the [[Borda count]], or a [[Condorcet method]], voters order the list of options from most to least preferred. In [[range voting]], voters rate each option separately. In [[first-past-the-post]] (also known as plurality voting), voters select only one option, while in [[approval voting]], they can select as many as they want. In voting systems that allow [[plumping]], like [[cumulative voting]], voters may vote for the same candidate multiple times.

=== District (constituency) size ===

A voting system may select only one option (usually a candidate, but also an option that represents a decision), in which case it is called a "single winner system", or it may select multiple options, for example candidates to fill an assembly or alternative possible decisions on the measure the ballot posed.

A voting system may select only one option (usually a candidate, but also an option that represents a decision), in which case it is called a "single-winner system", or it may select multiple options, for example, candidates to fill an assembly or alternative possible decisions on the measure the ballot posed.

Some countries, like Israel, fill their entire parliament using a single multiple-winner district ([[constituency]]), while others, like Ireland or Belgium, break up their national elections into smaller, multiple-winner districts, and yet others, like the United States or the United Kingdom, hold only single-winner elections. Some systems, like the [[Additional member system]], embed smaller districts within larger ones.

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===[[Government formation]]===

The formation of the government happens after the election and can be done in multiple ways. This is independent of the elections themselves. There are many systems of government, each of which has an electoral system and a system of government formation as components. Typical parliamentary systems use a two-step process, first an election is called where the representatives are elected by citizens through a balloting system, then the government is formed from the representatives through its own process.

The formation of the government happens after the election and can be done in multiple ways. This is independent of the elections themselves. There are many systems of government, each of which has an electoral system and a system of government formation as components. Typical parliamentary systems use a two-step process, first, an election is called where the representatives are elected by citizens through a balloting system, then the government is formed from the representatives through its own process.

== Criteria in evaluating voting systems ==

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** [[Random ballot]]

* [[Ordinal Voting]]: A valid vote can rank candidates 1,2,3... (Tied rankings are permitted in some methods but not others)

''Tied rankings not permitted''

** ''Tied rankings not permitted''

** [[Instant-runoff voting]] (IRV, also known as alternative vote or "preference voting")

*** [[Instant-runoff voting]] (IRV, also known as alternative vote or "preference voting")

** [[Supplementary vote]]: simplified IRV process (two rankings, two rounds)

*** [[Supplementary vote]]: simplified IRV process (two rankings, two rounds)

** [[Borda count]]: single round count, more points for higher-ranked

*** [[Borda count]]: single round count, more points for higher-ranked

** [[Coombs' method]]: disapproval runoff

*** [[Coombs' method]]: disapproval runoff

''Tied rankings permitted''

** ''Tied rankings permitted''

** [[Condorcet method]], actually several families of systems that satisfy Condorcet's criterion:

*** [[Condorcet method]], actually several families of systems that satisfy Condorcet's criterion:

** [[Ranked Pairs]] (RP) and variants such as [[Maximize Affirmed Majorities]] and [[Maximum Majority Voting]]

*** [[Ranked Pairs]] (RP) and variants such as [[Maximize Affirmed Majorities]] and [[Maximum Majority Voting]]

** [[Schulze method|Schulze]], which is also known as "Beatpath Method" or "Cloneproof Schwartz Sequential Dropping"

*** [[Schulze method|Schulze]], which is also known as "Beatpath Method" or "Cloneproof Schwartz Sequential Dropping"

** [[Copeland's method]]

*** [[Copeland's method]]

''Condorcet-compliant methods''

** ''Condorcet-compliant methods''

** VOTE-123: another name for Condorcet methods, stands for Virtual One-on-one Tournament Elections using 1st, 2nd, & 3rd choices

*** VOTE-123: another name for Condorcet methods, stands for Virtual One-on-one Tournament Elections using 1st, 2nd, & 3rd choices

** Majority voting or Maximum Majority voting: another term often used for Condorcet methods

*** Majority voting or Maximum Majority voting: another term often used for Condorcet methods

**[[Bucklin voting]]: approval with virtual runoff; each voters' ballot is counted for more candidates each round until some candidate reaches a majority

** [[Bucklin voting]]: approval with virtual runoff; each voters' ballot is counted for more candidates each round until some candidate reaches a majority

* [[Cardinal Voting]]: voting A valid vote allows independent numerical values to be associated with each candidate. (The set of valid values is limited.)

** [[Approval Voting]]

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* [http://fc.antioch.edu/~jarmyta@antioch-college.edu/voting.htm James Green-Armytage's voting methods page] Includes a beginner-friendly introduction and a helpful in-depth tutorial

* [http://www.mcs.vuw.ac.nz/~ncj/comp303/schulze.pdf A New Monotonic and Clone-Independent Single-Winner Election Method] ('''[[Portable Document Format|PDF]]''') by Markus Schulze ([http://www.citizensassembly.bc.ca/resources/submissions/csharman-10_0409201706-143.pdf mirror1], [http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/demexp-dev/2003-09/pdflQW7IlpAfC.pdf mirror2])

* [http://www.masquilier.org/republic/election/ A different way to vote] by AugustinMa. Of interest is the [http://www.masquilier.org/libre/phpbb/ modified] version of the popular phpBB bulletin board that can be found [http://www.masquilier.org/agora/ here]. The board allows the users to create plurality, approval and ~~condorcet~~ ([[Schulze method|Schulze]]) polls and [http://www.masquilier.org/agora/viewforum.php?f=7 cast their ballots].

* [http://www.masquilier.org/republic/election/ A different way to vote] by AugustinMa. Of interest is the [http://www.masquilier.org/libre/phpbb/ modified] version of the popular phpBB bulletin board that can be found [http://www.masquilier.org/agora/ here]. The board allows the users to create plurality, approval and Condorcet ([[Schulze method|Schulze]]) polls and [http://www.masquilier.org/agora/viewforum.php?f=7 cast their ballots].