Accurate Democracy. |
Voting Systems.
Tools
Review
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Review Goals |
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This page lists democratic goals for election and policy-making rules, to review topics on the main pages. (Mathematical goals appeared in the supplementary math pages.)
The #1 goal is the greatest happiness for the greatest number of voters.
The diverse reps form an inclusive and balanced council.
We can create a new type of democracy between adversarial and consensual: Multi-winner rules to elect reps or fund proposals give each group their fair share of power without letting a minority block action. Policy decisions by ensemble councils using Condorcet's Pairwise rule also may follow a less adversarial path than winner take all. |
Steering Analogy
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When choosing a voting rule, a new Mercedes costs little more than an old jalopy. That price is a bargan when the votes steer important budgets or policies. Each dollar spent to count ballots may steer $10,000 in taxes.
Does your car have an 1890 "steering tiller" or a new, power-steering wheel? Does your organization have an 1890 voting rule or a new, balanced and centered rule? Today's drivers need the skill to use power steering -- but they do not need the skill to build a car or the math and logic to engineer one. Same with voters and voting rules. A group may test drive a new rule in a survey, or by turning into a "committee of the whole" to vote, tally and report its result for adoption by the usual rules. |
Steps Toward Accurate Democracy | |
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| 1) Organize voters, with | Movable Votes. |
| 2) Represent everyone, with | Full Representation. |
| 3) Center majorities, with | Ensemble Councils. |
| 4) Resist manipulation, with | Clear Legislative Votes. |
| 5) Empower everyone, with | Fair-share Spending. |
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Strengthen Democracy: Expand the popular base of power. In a one-winner contest, the best rules raise the number of votes the winner needs from a plurality to a majority, increasing the winner's mandate. In a multi-winner contest, the best rules raise the total votes needed to fill all the council seats, increasing the mandate for the council's majority. |
| Voting for | Old rules | New rules |
|---|---|---|
Chairperson |
the plurality | a majority |
Council |
pluralities | over three quarters |
Budget |
a few power blocs | all members |
Policy |
a one-sided majority | the over-all majority |
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The best legislative rules follow the patterns of the best electoral rules. The best voting rules are fast, easy and fair. They organize big groups backing popular choices. |
Some Ethical GoalsPop Quiz: Name the best voting rule to satisfy each goal.Elections:
Legislation:
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