Balance Interests Uniformly
When the Individuals governed choose to vote, their interests should be similarly and proportionally reflected in the bodies that govern them.
Test Your Knowledge
This Webpage and Video Have a Quiz you can take to test your knowledge and understanding of the content. This lesson is part of a larger education series.
Vote Share
The interests of individuals in jurisdictions are multifaceted and subject to change. The selection mechanism for their representatives should distort this diversity of interests as little as possible to minimize consent violations and balance interests uniformly.
Seat Control
the allocation of seats in the governing body based on the vote share. It should mirror the vote share proportionally to ensure that the governing body accurately represents the preferences of the electorate. This alignment prevents any distortion of the people's will.
Committee Control
Seats within committees are distributed among factions. Like Seat Control, Committee Control aims to proportionally reflect the vote share within the committees, which are crucial for detailed legislative work. Proper Committee Control ensures that the influence within committees matches the factions' electoral support, maintaining balanced decision-making across all governance levels.
Simulation: Electoral Methods Compared
Question: Which of these Four (4) Electoral Systems are best at Uniformly Balancing the Interests of the voters?
Autocratic Voting
Pick One (1), One (1) Winner
The Prevailing Power Structure controls who can stand for election and who can vote. Additional obstacles to suppress opposition are implemented by the power structure to maintain the status quo.
| Leader Appointment |
|---|
Autocratic Vote Share
In this example B🟧(Orange) , D🟨(Yellow) , and G🟦(Blue) are disqualified as they are a threat to the incumbency of F🟩(Green) .
Autocratic Outcome
The remaining candidates follow Plurality voting. All viable challengers have been removed with only fringe token opposition candidates remaining.
Plurality Voting (FPTP)
Pick One (1), One (1) Winner
Plurality Voting, also known as First Past the Post Voting, is a method where the option selected with the most votes win.
| Candidate Selection |
|---|
Plurality Vote Share
A Majority (over 50%) is NOT required to win in this system.
Plurality Outcome
Regardless of the number of options, the choice with the most votes prevails over all others even if the choice itself has non-majority support.
Ranked Choice Voting (RCV)
Rank up to All, One (1) Winner
Voters rank their candidates putting a 1 next to their first choice, 2 next to their 2nd choice and so on. If the voters preferred candidate is eliminated, their votes are distributed to the remaining preferred candidates.
| Rank | Candidate Selection |
|---|---|
| 1st Choice | |
| 2nd Choice | |
| 3rd Choice | |
| 4th Choice | |
| 5th Choice | |
| 6th Choice | |
RCV Vote Share
After voters rank their candidates, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated first and their voters 2nd choice votes are redistributed.
RCV Outcome
Unlike Plurality Voting, Ranked Choice Voting gives voters alternative choices. However, as shown below, large percentages of the population are still locked out of government at any given time.
Proportional Ranked Choice Voting (PR-RCV)
Rank up to All, Multi-Winner [>=5]
PR-RCV is similar to RCV except there are multiple winners. This can be accomplished by increasing the number of winners per district OR by combining several districts into one larger district.
| Rank | Candidate Selection |
|---|---|
| 1st Choice | |
| 2nd Choice | |
| 3rd Choice | |
| 4th Choice | |
| 5th Choice | |
| 6th Choice | |
| 7th Choice | |
| 8th Choice | |
| 9th Choice | |
| 10th Choice | |
PR-RCV Vote Share
For this Sample Ballot there are Five (5) seats available. Therefore, a Candidate must get 100% divided by 5 (or 20%) to win.
PR-RCV Outcome
The candidate with the least votes is eliminated first and their voters 2nd choice votes are redistributed.
Answer: Proportional Ranked Choice Voting (PR-RCV)
No other system comes close to having the final outcome match the voters interests.
Protects Diversity
Supports all political groups all the time.
Breaks Deadlocks
Resolves stalemates in two-party systems using unrepresentative voting methods like First Past the Post.
Enhances Efficiency
Improves the functioning of one-party/No-Party states by removing unproductive incentives in autocratic systems.
Empowers Party Members
PR-RCV Supports all political groups all the time.
Increases Leverage for Legislators
Provides individual legislators more power to represent their jurisdictions in negotiations with faction leadership.
Ensures Neutrality
Enables speakers, chairs, civil officers, and non-political appointees to remain truly neutral by balancing political pressures.
Promotes Cooperation
Encourages cooperative behavior and reduces combative behavior by creating a balanced political environment by making single faction majorities unlikely.