shuggy's blog
There's a very simple system that we could easily switch to: "Approval Voting". This is a simple modification of First-Past-the-Post. Basically you vote for ALL the candidates of whom you approve, (not just one). Whoever has the highest approval wins.
No wasted votes on smaller parties because you can vote for more than one party.
If you have no objection to any candidate you can vote for them all.
If you object to one candidate you can vote for every other candidate.
And if you can't stand any of your choices, a blank ballot paper shows your disapproval.
You could even add the rule that if the number of blank ballots exceeds the highest approval rating then the election has to be re-run with fresh candidates.
It's simple, easy to understand, and if only a single candidate is being elected then it has been mathematically proven that no fairer system exists.
And because candidates aren't just touting for their own narrow supporters votes but wishing to spread their appeal it also has the effect of marginalising extremists like "Respect", "Sinn Fein" and other similar crypto-fascist parties.
What's not to like?
What's not to like?
Hmmm, it doesn't rank approval and therefore gets less information about the preferences of the voter than the Alternative Vote system?
True, but if you want to rank your choices then you need a system like Condorcet which is extremely fair, but also pretty complicated. And interestingly, in the majority of cases Approval Voting returns the same result as Condorcet. (Caveat: I am talking single member constituencies).
Voting systems are mathematically more interesting than most people will realise - it's an unfortunate fact that there is no perfectly fair voting system. For example, in STV it is possible for you to rank a candidate higher only for that candidate to lose as a result of your having done so. A freak and rare ocurrence it is true, but a genuine possibility nonetheless.
But at the end of the day, Approval Voting combines extreme simplicity with extreme fairness, and after the fiasco of the misunderstood complications of the Scottish elections surely that is a major plus in its favour?
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