"Cumulative Voting" Method Gaining Attention

Local ID10T writes "The AP reports on a system of voting, called 'cumulative voting,' which was just used under court order in Port Chester, NY. Under this system, voters can apportion their votes as they wish — all to one candidate, one to each candidate, or any combination. The system, which has been used in Alabama, Illinois, South Dakota, Texas, and New York, allows a political minority to gain representation if it organizes behind specific candidates. Courts are increasingly mandating cumulative voting when they deem it necessary to provide fair representation." Wikipedia notes that cumulative voting "was used to elect the Illinois House of Representatives from 1870 until its repeal in 1980," without saying why the system was abandoned.

Comments

No, not rankings; RATINGS

[Relic of the Future]

Except the most-commonly suggested ranking system (instant runoff voting, AKA ranked choice voting, AKA the alternative vote), doesn't do that. Instead, it would eliminate B in the first round, leaving a narrow decision between A and C; just like how we have now.

What would work better is a rating-based system, not a ranking-based one.

The two best-known rating-based systems are approval voting (give every candidate a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down) and score voting (AKA range voting; give each candidate any score from within a given range, like 0-5 or 0-10.) If 50% of voters gave A 10 points, B 6 or more points, and C 0 points, and 50% reversed A and C, then B wins; as you think they should.

More information about score and approval voting is available at The Center for Range Voting

Re:The Illinois experience

[dominious]

what is this cum ballot you speak of?

Re:The Illinois experience

[Hognoxious]

I don't know, but I'm nominating myself!