Positional voting system
Encyclopedia
A positional voting system is a ranked voting method
in which the options receive points based on their position on each ballot, and the option with the most points wins.
Donald G. Saari
has published various works that analyze positional voting systems mathematically. The Borda count
is the fundamental method that is explored by this analysis.
Other methods that don't use ranking can still be explored by this analysis by considering the vote as truncated preferences, and assigning equal rank points without needing to know the exact order.
Unranked methods that can be analyzed as positional systems:
And unranked methods for multiwinner elections: (N seat election)
Preferential voting
Preferential voting is a type of ballot structure used in several electoral systems in which voters rank candidates in order of relative preference. For example, the voter may select their first choice as '1', their second preference a '2', and so on...
in which the options receive points based on their position on each ballot, and the option with the most points wins.
Donald G. Saari
Donald G. Saari
Donald Gene Saari is the Distinguished Professor of Mathematics and Economics and director of the Institute for Mathematical Behavioral Sciences at the University of California Irvine...
has published various works that analyze positional voting systems mathematically. The Borda count
Borda count
The Borda count is a single-winner election method in which voters rank candidates in order of preference. The Borda count determines the winner of an election by giving each candidate a certain number of points corresponding to the position in which he or she is ranked by each voter. Once all...
is the fundamental method that is explored by this analysis.
Other methods that don't use ranking can still be explored by this analysis by considering the vote as truncated preferences, and assigning equal rank points without needing to know the exact order.
Unranked methods that can be analyzed as positional systems:
- Plurality voting: First place receives 1 point, all other places receive 0.
- Anti-plurality votingAnti-plurality votingAnti-plurality voting describes a voting method in which each voter votes against a single candidate, and the candidate with the fewest votes against wins. Anti-plurality voting is an example of a positional voting method.- An Example :...
: Last place receives 0 point, all other places receive 1.
And unranked methods for multiwinner elections: (N seat election)
- Single non-transferable voteSingle non-transferable voteThe single non-transferable vote or SNTV is an electoral system used in multi-member constituency elections.- Voting :In any election, each voter casts one vote for one candidate in a multi-candidate race for multiple offices. Posts are filled by the candidates with the most votes...
: Same as plurality, one choice receives 1 point, others 0. - Limited votingLimited VotingLimited voting is a voting system in which electors have fewer votes than there are positions available. The positions are awarded to the candidates who receive the most votes absolutely...
Less than N choices receive 1 point, all other places receive 0. - Bloc votingPlurality-at-large votingPlurality-at-large voting is a non-proportional voting system for electing several representatives from a single multimember electoral district using a series of check boxes and tallying votes similar to a plurality election...
: Up to N choices receive 1 point (for N seat election), all other places receive 0.