Different uses for voting need different types of voting.
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 combative path than winner take all.
Steering AnalogyWhen choosing a voting rule, a new Mercedes costs little more than an old jalopy. That price is a bargain when the votes steer important budgets or policies.
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, centered and balanced rule?
Today's drivers need the skill to use power steering —
A group may test drive a new rule in a survey.
Which is more stable and quick?
Steps Toward Accurate Democracy
|1) Organize voters, through||Movable Votes.|
|2) Represent everyone, through||Full Representation.|
|3) Center majorities, through||Ensemble Councils.|
|4) Resist manipulation, through||Clear Legislative Votes.|
|5) Empower everyone, through||Fair-Share Spending.|
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|
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.
Give fair representation to all major groups;
In this era dominated by corporations and economic consciousness, it is important to be aware that our quality of life depends in part on the quality of our democracy.
Three Propositions for Accurate DemocracyDemocracy's greatest risk may come from inside: from systems that work poorly. Teach your friends and colleagues:
Accurate representation selects central and diverse reps.
|Electoral Systems||Legislative Systems|