The Montgomery, Alabama Advertiser has this interesting story about how Chilton County uses cumulative voting. The reason it exists in Chilton County is to enable blacks, who are only 10% of the population, to elect one of their own to countywide partisan office. However, everything about cumulative voting would also enable minor party members to have a chance to elect one of their own as well.
Chilton County is in the geographical center of Alabama, between Montgomery and Birmingham. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
Illinois used to use cumulative voting to elect members of the state house of representatives.
Chilton County is one of about 50 (I forget the exact number, which changes over time anyway) jurisdictions that use cumulative voting. A roughly equal number use the limited vote for the same reason, although it’s not really a good method.
Although multi-winner ranked choice voting (single transferable vote) may seem harder to explain, it’s actually easier for voters and candidates to use. Put simply, theres no need for strategic thinking. Under cumulative voting, each segment of the community has to figure out how many candidates it should run and voters have to figure out how to allocate their votes. When there’s no decent poll data, both decisions can be hard to make. As a result, STV is a better choice.
Simple P.R. and Democracy —
Total Votes / Total Seats = Equal votes required for each seat winner.
Winner excess votes down, loser votes up.
99.99 plus percent of the voters elect a legislator.
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Head to head Condorcet math is a bit more complex – with an App. V. tiebreaker.
P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.