Neferti~ wrote:
I have never understood the "preferential" thing. I didn't vote for anyone last Election ... got my name crossed off and that was that.
Voting
1 for anybody doesn't mean that your vote will go EXCLUSIVELY to that Party ... unfortunately.
I also disagree that we should be MADE to get our name marked off. Most people would rather pay the $20 fine ... . or try them on to see whether they would really, truly, take you to Court to make you pay 20 bucks. If Turncoat is still being the Big Shot .... he won't get my vote again and I might try the 20 buck or go to Gaol option.
Neferti, the preference voting system assures that the person who most represents the views of the seat which is being elected, gets elected.
It does this by ensuring that the most popular candidate receives at least 51% of the cast votes, no matter how many candidates are standing.
This is achieved by the electors casting their votes for each candidate in order of their preference. When the votes are counted, the candidate who achieves the least number of votes is eliminated. Their preferences then are directed to the candidate that that candidate has chosen to receive them. This goes on until there are effectively two candidates left. The candidate who receives the greatest number of votes, wins, obviously but that number then represents the views of a majority of voters.
Only an optional preferential voting system is fairer.
A first-past-the-post voting system only works when there are essentially two candidates running. Any more than that, you can have the least popular winning the seat. This is achieved by the votes being split, with the third or fourth candidate receiving more votes than the more popular one.
I am unsure why people do not educate themselves about how their votes are counted however, it appears a common problem in many different democracies. Many Americans and British people cannot see the advantages of a preferential voting system. Indeed, the UK had a referendum on changing their voting system a couple of years ago where the most terrible lies were told about preferential voting. I mean, the UK doesn't even have a secret ballot in their elections, while in the US, your party membership is known via your voter registration. The "Australian Ballot" system - a true secret ballot is unknown in both countries. Your vote is traceable.
Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. - Eric Blair