VOTING SYSTEM DEFECTS

HOW VOTING SYSTEMS MALFUNCTION

Most voting systems have serious defects that mar elections and change the results away from what the voters intend.

VOTING SYSTEMS
How Voting Systems Malfunction n = Number of candidates
How voting systems operate
Biggest mistake in the system shown in this color
PLURALITY Vote for only one No runoff If n ≥ 3, then fails: the vote favors most different candidate Favors extremist candidates	PLURALITY WITH RUNOFF Vote for only one Runoff if all < 50% If n ≥ 4, then fails: the vote favors most different candidate Runoff disenfranchises losing parties	APPROVAL Vote for any you like No runoff Voters have unequal power Favors centrist candidate Expect numerous recounts	APPROVAL WITH RUNOFF Vote for any you like Runoff if all < 50% Voters have unequal power Favors centrist candidate Runoff disenfranchises losing parties
Vote for only 1 choice. Score = sum of votes.	Vote for only 1 choice. If none > 50%, best 2 get plurality runoff.	Vote for all choices liked. Score = sum of votes.	Vote for all choices liked. If none > 50%, best 2 get plurality runoff.
Similar candidates unfairly disfavored (Orange and green on chart split vote)	Major party removed from runoff (Green on chart removed)	Votes are always very close Almost all elections will have recounts	Major party removed from runoff (Green on chart removed)

BORDA/CONDORCET RANK Rank your choice order No runoff Can't tell likes from dislikes Can't favor or disfavor equally Your vote can elect a dislike	INSTANT RUNOFF RANK Rank your choice order Round: remove low if all < 50% Runoff rounds destroy votes Can't tell likes from dislikes Your vote can elect a dislike	INDEPENDENT VOTING Vote on each choice separately Score = YES sum − NO sum Many abstains cause surprise win Voting Plurality causes errors All negative scores cause revote	FREE CHOICES RATING Rate choice separately −5 .. +5 Score = sum of ratings Voters have unequal power Favors centrist candidate Expect numerous recounts
Rank from best to worst. Scoring systems used differ	Rank best to worst. Elimination rounds: If all < 50%, lowest choice eliminated	Vote on every candidate: YES, NO, Abstain Score = YES − NO. Blank = Abstain.	Rate each choice as an integer: Rate from −5 to +5 (or −50 to +50)
For A & B, Anti C = For A, Anti B & C The vote on B (orange) is same for both.	Anti A 4th, Anti B 3rd ≠ Anti A 3rd, Anti B 4th Order of NO votes can help elect a NO.	Large Abstain vote causes surprise win Don't vote Abstain except for lower YES.	Votes are always very close Almost all elections will have recounts

SECONDARY VOTING SYSTEMS
These systems are attached to the voting systems above
How Secondary Voting Systems Malfunction s = Number of seats of office
How secondary voting systems operate
Biggest secondary voting mistake shown in this color
STRAIGHT PARTY DEVICE Votes for all candidates of one party Discriminates against lower candidates.	AT-LARGE ELECTION Fills m seats in one race Usually all seats m are the same party	WINNER-TAKE-ALL VOTE Finds winner using normal voting Then makes all votes for the winner	PRIMARY ELECTION Removes candidates from the race Some states remove parties instead
Select the party of your choice.	Vote for any m candidates.	People vote normally.	Usually a defective plurality vote.
Unfairly favors all candidates in the party of a favorite candidate.	Unfairly tends to choose m candidates of the same party.	After the race, this unfairly changes all votes into votes for the winner.	Disenfranchises voters by removing their candidates or parties from the race.

CONCLUSION
Independent Voting is the only fair system. It is fair with any number of candidates. None of the secondary systems are fair.

ELECTION SYSTEMS DESCRIBED		ELECTION SYSTEMS COMPARED

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