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Voting Systems Study Committee 2000-2001

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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF SANTA MONICA A Study of Voting Systems Applicable to Santa Monica’s Non Partisan At Large, Multi-Seat, Multi-Candidate Governing Bodies January 2001 Committee Members Wini Allard, Sheila Field, Harriet Foster, Joanne Leavitt, Ann Williams Contact [email protected] 1 A STUDY OF VOTING SYSTEMS LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF SANTA MONICA SECTION ONE Scope: A study of voting systems for electing legislative bodies at the municipal level. Focus: The focus will be a comparison and evaluation of different voting systems, including plurality/majority, semi-proportional and proportional systems that have been or could be used in at- large municipal elections in the City of Santa Monica. INTRODUCTION In view of the fact that alternative voting systems have recently become an issue state and nationwide, we feel that it is important to consider voting systems as they apply to Santa Monica elections. Voting systems as described and discussed in this paper refer to the method of casting and/or counting the votes in any election. The term ‘voting system’ also encompasses the cultural and sociological forces that impinge on and shape election competition. We will only touch upon these forces in this report. This paper will consider City Council, School Board, Rent Control Board and College Board of Trustees elections in Santa Monica. All systems chosen and studied are discussed in terms of relevance to Santa Monica elections. Santa Monica elections are currently non-partisan, multi-seat, at-large, plurality elections. 2 DEMOGRAPHICS Santa Monica Santa Monica is a small city bounded on one side by the Pacific Ocean and surrounded on the three other sides by Los Angeles. It is one of the most densely populated urban areas in California. The following demographics are taken from a Rand Report prepared for the City of Santa Monica, Human Resources Division, March 2000. Population: 90,000 (59,305 registered voters as of Oct. 2000- per City Clerk’s Office). Area: 8.3 sq. mi. Median Age: 38 (ages 30-49 constitute almost 40% of population) Race: White 71% Latinos 16% Asians 8% Blacks 4% Median Income: $48,934 FOR A MORE DETAILED LOOK A T SANTA MONICA, SEE APPENDIX A. POLITICAL STRUCTURE Santa Monica has a seven-seat City Council elected in a 3/4 pattern for a four-year term. It has a City Manager form of government. The Mayor is elected from the sitting Council for a period of one year. The Rent Control Board has five seats, elected in a 2/3 pattern. The College Board of Trustees has a seven-seat board, as does the School Board, and both have the same 3/4 staggered elections for four-year terms. Elections in Santa Monica are influenced by various slates or factions. Opponents may view these as sources of exclusion, the narrowing of the public political agenda to a small range of issues, and impediments to participation by independent candidates. Proponents may maintain that they provide the necessary organization to promulgate platforms, focus on important issues, provide an opportunity for groups and individuals to participate in the public process who might otherwise be excluded and provide funds to candidates who might not otherwise be able to afford to run for office. The tendency has been for two slates or factions to run in opposition, and for a handful of unaffiliated candidates to run as well. The backing of an organized group greatly increases a candidates chances for election. 3 SECTION TWO A DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEMS STUDIED We have chosen to study the following five systems, based on their applicability to at large, multi- seat non-partisan elections: Plurality, Approval, Cumulative, Limited and Single Transferable Vote (sometimes called Choice). In addition, we have provided information on Instant Run Off Voting (IRV), (a single seat system), in Appendix B. FIRST PAST THE POST/PLURALITY VOTING This is the system currently being used in most areas of the United States. Description: Plurality or majoritarian voting is probably one of the oldest methods of choosing leaders. It is also probably the simplest and perhaps the most widely used form in the United States. One person, one vote, and the most votes win. It can be used in a single seat district or in an at large election. In either case voters have as many votes as there are open seats. The candidates with the most votes win. History: This concept of choosing leaders goes back to Greek and Roman times, and came to the United States with the British colonists. The Constitution discusses issues concerning the right to vote, and establishes the Electoral College, but leaves the methodology of it up to the states. In general, the states have patterned after the national system and use this method. According to Pippa Norris in her study “Choosing Electoral Systems”, 83 out of 150 countries were found to use this system. Most, but not all, of those countries have come under the influence of Great Britain at some time. Supporters say: • It provides a clear cut choice for voters • It gives rise to coherent parliamentary opposition • It excludes candidates from extremist parties from winning • It supports broad based parties • It provides for a stronger, more responsive government • It favors stability and decisiveness • It creates a link between the representative and the constituent • It allows for the choice of a person, not just a party Opponents say: • It excludes minority parties from participation and representation • It creates “wasted” votes • It is not responsive to public opinion • It may result in a winning candidate getting only a minority of the vote 4 BALLOT DESIGNS FOR DIFFERENT SYSTEMS Plurality There are four seats to be filled. There are twelve candidates. Directions to voters: Place an X next to the candidates you prefer. You may vote for up to 4 candidates Emily Dickinson John Steinbeck Sylvia Plath Ernest Hemingway Maya Angelou Mark Twain Edith Wharton Robert Frost Edgar Allan Poe Eugene O’Neill Louisa May Alcott James Baldwin 5 APPROVAL VOTING Description: Approval Voting is a procedure in which citizens can vote for, or approve of, as many candidates as they wish in multicandidate elections. Thus, if there are five candidates, running for three open seats, voters are not restricted to voting for just three candidates. The voter may vote for as many candidates as he/she wants. However, only one vote can be cast for every approved candidate; votes cannot be cumulated and several cast for one candidate. The candidates with the most votes and presumably most acceptable to the most voters, wins the election. The winner is simply the candidates approved by the largest number of voters. Very similar to what we now do in Plurality Voting. History: Approval voting is a relative newcomer to voting systems. Conceived independently by at least five different sets of people in the late 1970’s, the name Approval Voting was coined by Robert J. Weber, Professor of Decision Sciences at Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University. Several excellent books have been written about testing the viability of the concept by using a variety of mathematical models. Where Used: The Secretary-General of the United Nations is elected via Approval Voting. Approval Voting was used in 1990 in Oregon in a statewide advisory referendum on school financing, which presented voters with five different options and allowed them to vote for as many as they wished. The National Academy of Sciences, and many colleges and universities use it from the departmental level to the school-wide level. Several different scientific and engineering societies use Approval Voting as well. Supporters say: • It gives the voter more flexible options. • It helps elect the strongest candidates. • It will reduce negative campaigning. • It will increase voter turnout. • It will lead to the selection of candidates with the most widespread support among voters • It will give minority candidates a better chance to gather support. • Approval Voting is eminently practical. Opponents say: • Approval Voting does not allow ranking of candidates that other voting systems offer. • Approval Voting could encourage a proliferation of candidates. • Approval Voting could create significant inequities among voters. 6 BALLOT DESIGNS FOR DIFFERENT SYSTEMS APPROVAL There are four seats to be filled. There are twelve candidates. Directions to voters: Place an X next to any of the candidates that meet with your approval. You may vote for up to 12 candidates Emily Dickinson John Steinbeck Sylvia Plath Ernest Hemingway Maya Angelou Mark Twain Edith Wharton Robert Frost Edgar Allan Poe Eugene O’Neill Louisa May Alcott James Baldwin 7 CUMULATIVE VOTING Description: Cumulative Voting is a semi-proportional system used in at-large elections. In this system each voter casts as many votes as there are seats. The unique aspect of Cumulative Voting is that the voter may distribute (cumulate) his votes. For example, in an election with 5 open seats, the voter may divide his/her five votes as he/she pleases, giving all to one candidate or giving 2.5 to two, or 3 to one candidate and two to another or any other way he wishes, depending on the number of candidates he/she chooses to support. History: Cumulative voting does have some history in the United States. It was used in the Illinois State Legislature from 1870 - 1980. In recent years it has been seen as a solution to gerrymandered districts which are now finding disfavor in the courts. One of the main purposes of this system is to elect minority candidates in a situation where that may not be possible with plurality voting. Where Used: Today Cumulative Voting is used in at least 17 cities, counties or school districts.
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