This book examines the effects of preferential voting on intraparty electoral competition and voting behavior. Using data covering 19 countries and over 200 elections, this study sheds light on a somewhat neglected aspect of electoral systems. The author demonstrates that the ability of voters to influence the selection and deselection of MPs under preferential voting systems is not as important as is often assumed. Instead, their ability to shape the election of a given candidate depends heavily on the balance between party power and voter power. In this way, this book advances the understanding of the effect of preferential voting on intra-party dynamics, parliamentary turnover, and voter behavior. Based on a rigorous, data-led methodological approach, the book contributes to both the theory and practice of the study of electoral systems, and should be read by scholars, students and practitioners interested in preferential voting systems.

This book examines the effects of preferential voting on intraparty electoral competition and voting behavior. Using data covering 19 countries and over 200 elections, this study sheds light on a somewhat neglected aspect of electoral systems. The author demonstrates that the ability of voters to influence the selection and deselection of MPs under preferential voting systems is not as important as is often assumed. Instead, their ability to shape the election of a given candidate depends heavily on the balance between party power and voter power. In this way, this book advances the understanding of the effect of preferential voting on intra-party dynamics, parliamentary turnover, and voter behavior. Based on a rigorous, data-led methodological approach, the book contributes to both the theory and practice of the study of electoral systems, and should be read by scholars, students and practitioners interested in preferential voting systems.

In many contexts of everyday life we find ourselves faced with the problem of reconciling the views of several persons. These problems are usually solved by resorting to some opinion aggre gating procedure, like voting. Very often the problem is thought of as being solved after the decision to take a vote has been made and the ballots have been counted. Most official decision making bodies have formally instituted procedures of voting but in informal groups such procedures are typically chosen in casu. Curiously enough people do not seem to pay much attention to which particular procedure is being resorted to as long as some kind of voting takes place. As we shall see shortly the procedure being used often makes a great difference to the voting outcomes. Thus, the Question arises as to which voting procedure is best. This book is devoted to a discussion of this problem in the light of various criteria of optimality. We shall deal with a number of procedures that have been proposed for use or are actually in use in voting contexts. The aim of this book is to give an evaluation of the virtues and shortcomings of these procedures. On the basis of this evaluation the reader will hopefully be able to determine which procedure is optimal for the decision setting that he or she has in mind.

Both theoretical and empirical aspects of single- and multi-winner voting procedures are presented in this collection of papers. Starting from a discussion of the underlying principles of democratic representation, the volume includes a description of a great variety of voting procedures. It lists and illustrates their susceptibility to the main voting paradoxes, assesses (under various models of voters' preferences) the probability of paradoxical outcomes, and discusses the relevance of the theoretical results to the choice of voting system.

Publisher Description

Unlock the potential of understanding democratic processes with "Voting," a key guide in the Political Science series that explores the significance of voting systems. This book is ideal for anyone interested in mastering the complexities of political science. Why is "Voting" essential? Understanding voting systems is vital for grasping democracy. This book provides insights into various electoral methods, revealing their complexities and implications. Chapters Overviews: 1: Voting: Foundational concepts of voting systems and their role in democracy. 2: Approval Voting: System where voters express support for candidates, compared with other methods. 3: Proportional Representation: Reflects voter diversity in the elected body. 4: Two-Round System: Ensures broad support through a second voting round if needed. 5: Single Transferable Vote: Promotes fair representation by transferring votes based on preferences. 6: Strategic Voting: Casting votes to achieve more favorable outcomes. 7: Condorcet Method: Identifies a candidate winning in head-to-head matches. 8: Cumulative Voting: Voters distribute multiple votes among candidates strategically. 9: Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives: Ensures outcomes aren’t affected by non-viable candidates. 10: Electoral System of Australia: Detailed look at Australia’s voting system and its outcomes. 11: Random Ballot: Theoretical method where outcomes are decided by chance. 12: Open List: Voters influence the order of candidates on a party list. 13: Majority Criterion: Ensures election outcomes reflect majority preferences. 14: BC-STV: British Columbia’s system for proportional representation. 15: Issues Affecting the Single Transferable Vote: Challenges and considerations of the Single Transferable Vote system. 16: Borda Count: Ranked voting system aggregating preferences to determine a winner. 17: Instant-Runoff Voting: Ensures a majority winner through elimination of less popular candidates. 18: Comparison of Hare and Droop Quotas: Methods of determining votes needed for election in proportional systems. 19: Electoral System: Overview of various systems and their impact on democracy. 20: Ranked Voting: Voters rank candidates to influence outcomes. 21: Comparison of Electoral Systems: Comparative analysis of different systems and their effectiveness. By choosing "Voting," you gain a comprehensive resource to deepen your understanding of democratic systems, offering valuable insights beyond the pages.