My thoughts on voting; let me show you
May. 28th, 2008 09:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
doireThis election has an unusual feature that I’ve not seen elsewhere. Forget any ideas of sock-puppets, intimidation and exhortation; those are par for the course in most elections. This one lets you change your mind and then your vote.
For what it’s worth, I favour a system which gives each voter multiple votes which they can give to one or more candidates. The winner is the candidate with the most votes. No unpleasant arithmetic needed. The fun is in deciding what the effect is if voters should have just more votes than the number of candidates or a lot more.
Edited to fix links 12:15
What’s more you can see what the current tally is before casting your vote. This makes this a direct user-transferable voting system. There was no need to poll for second and third choices; the voters can see if their first choice has any chance, and if not, change their vote to their second choice.
It’s clear that users are changing their minds since some candidates’ votes are going down.
It’s a genuine social experiment. I’d really like to know if the ability to state second and third choices reduces the number of voters coming back. If the ability to change was clearly stated, and I feel that the system favours the “poll savvy”, would the vote reach a stable state as votes were switched from the no-hopers? Does there have to be a deadline for this to happen?
It’s clear that users are changing their minds since some candidates’ votes are going down.
It’s a genuine social experiment. I’d really like to know if the ability to state second and third choices reduces the number of voters coming back. If the ability to change was clearly stated, and I feel that the system favours the “poll savvy”, would the vote reach a stable state as votes were switched from the no-hopers? Does there have to be a deadline for this to happen?
A recent New Scientist article on different voting methods and their advantages and problems. First past the post, single transferable vote, etc.You need a subscription to read the full text, but many colleges have one.
Illustration of unexpected effects. This will mean more to Americans. I tried it but I don't know who all the candidates are.
Strange results
Illustration of unexpected effects. This will mean more to Americans. I tried it but I don't know who all the candidates are.
Strange results
List of candidates with links to their statements
bookshop's view of candidates fandom credentials. (Pretty, but not quite, impartial)
bookshop's view of candidates fandom credentials. (Pretty, but not quite, impartial)Closing time is 9:00 p.m. (21:00) PDT Thursday, May 29, 2008
* daylight saving time
Other places here
| Honolulu | 18:00 | Thursday, May 29 | ||||
| Los Angeles * | 21:00 | Thursday, May 29 | ||||
| Kingston | 23:00 | Thursday, May 29 | ||||
| Boston * | 00:00 | Friday, May 30 | ||||
| Rio de Janeiro | 01:00 | Friday, May 30 | ||||
| Reykjavik | 04:00 | Friday, May 30 | ||||
| London * | 05:00 | Friday, May 30 | ||||
| Athens * | 07:00 | Friday, May 30 | ||||
| Karachi | 09:00 | Friday, May 30 | ||||
| Hanoi | 11:00 | Friday, May 30 | ||||
| Tokyo | 13:00 | Friday, May 30 | ||||
| Canberra | 14:00 | Friday, May 30 | ||||
| Auckland | 16:00 | Friday, May 30 | ||||
Other places here
For what it’s worth, I favour a system which gives each voter multiple votes which they can give to one or more candidates. The winner is the candidate with the most votes. No unpleasant arithmetic needed. The fun is in deciding what the effect is if voters should have just more votes than the number of candidates or a lot more.
Edited to fix links 12:15
