STV Circuits

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STVCircuits          
Julian West Wosk Centre 11 September 2004
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STVCircuits       Voter Choice    
Julian West Wosk Centre 11 September 2004
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STVCircuits       Voter Choice A Voice for
Communities    
Julian West Wosk Centre 11 September 2004
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WHAT IS STV?
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WHERE IS STV USED?
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Ireland Northern Ireland Malta Australia New
Zealand Cambridge, Massachusetts Scotland
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Paudge Connolly TD Ireland Independent
Kerrie Tucker MLA Australia ACT Greens
Alice Wolf State Representative USA Democrat
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In the ACT, we have never had a majority
government. Independents and minor parties have
been elected and have always held the balance of
power. This situation has created a culture of
discussion in the Legislative Assembly which is
very democratic, and on the whole constructive.
Kerrie Tucker MLA Australia ACT Greens
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It is good for representing diversity and I
think that's one of the reasons it's a very good
system. I have found it on the whole to be
explainable, to be fair, and to work well in a
place that is diverse...
Alice Wolf State Representative USA Democrat
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It is a very good system and a very safe system
people have to look at the full field because as
each candidate is eliminated their vote becomes a
number one vote for their next choice.
Paudge Connolly TD Ireland Independent
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Paudge Connolly TD Ireland Independent
Kerrie Tucker MLA Australia Green Party
Alice Wolf State Representative USA Democrat
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Ireland Northern Ireland Malta Australia New
Zealand Cambridge, Massachusetts Scotland
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Ireland Northern Ireland Malta Australia New
Zealand Cambridge, Massachusetts Scotland Wales?
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• 48. On proportionality grounds alone, the choice
  between MMP and STV is not clear-cut. In our
  view, the most important advantages of STV over
  MMP are three-fold
• all Members would have equal status and share
  the same relationship with constituents
• the majority of votes would count and there
  would be no such thing as a wholly safe seat --
  giving all the parties an incentive to campaign
  in every constituency
• there are opportunities for greater
  representation of minority interests.

Commission on the Powers and Electoral
Arrangements of the National Assembly for
Wales (Richards Commission), chapter 12,
paragraphs 39 48
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MAPS
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HOW PROPORTIONAL IS STV?
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Despite what are typically considered to be very
small constituency sizes for a PR voting system,
STV in Ireland has typically delivered very
proportional election results. Laver, page 7
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... the STV system perhaps comes closest to an
ideal electoral system. It combines the virtues
of proportionality with those of preferential
voting. It is a system which politicians, given
a choice, would probably least like to see
introduced, but which voters, given a choice,
should choose.
Farrell, Comparing Electoral Systems, first
edition (1997), p. 168
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THANK YOU!
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• 39. The advantages of STV are as follows
• ... Members are on an equal footing ... and have
  the same constituency responsibilities
• it encourages a genuine contest in every
  constituency
• ... constituencies could be created relatively
  easily ... using local authority boundaries
• it is straightforward for voters to operate the
  system works smoothly in ... Ireland
• it maximizes voter choice and the incentive to
  vote and campaign
• constituents have a choice of elected
  representatives to approach with problems
• few votes are wasted voters know that their
  second preference will help elect someone
• it creates opportunities for independent
  candidates
• it creates opportunities for diversity
• more or less every vote counts equally and the
  result is broadly proportional
• because individual Members do not have 'safe'
  seats, STV increases their accountability
• 48. On proportionality grounds alone, the choice
  between MMP and STV is not clear-cut. ... the
  most important advantages of STV over AMS are
  three-fold
• all Members would have equal status and share
  the same relationship with constituents
• the majority of votes would count and there
  would be no such thing as a wholly safe
• seat -- giving all the parties
  an incentive to campaign in every constituency
• there are opportunities for greater
  representation of minority interests

Commission on the Powers and Electoral
Arrangements of the National Assembly for
Wales (Richards Commission), chapter 12,
paragraphs 39 48
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Circuit boundaries in urban centres
Kelowna
Kamloops
Prince George