History of STV
Anyone with time and interest should read this column about the genesis of the single transferable vote and its history in America. It’s written by someone at Princeton U who knows her stuff.
There was controversy recently at Princeton over their STV student government elections. As with Georgetown undergrads earlier this year, calls for repeal were rooted in misunderstanding of the system.
Good article, Josephine.
Edinburgh Voter on 04 May 2008 at 7:42 am #
I would also recommend a visit to the PR Library:
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/polit/damy/prlib.htm
Under “Articles”:
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/polit/damy/articles/articles.htm
you will find much of interest, including several on the History of PR (and STV) in the United States.
A Brief History of Proportional Representation in the United States: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/polit/damy/articles/Brief%20History%20of%20PR.htm
is quite short and very readable.
Incidentally, from Josephine’s article and other articles about this “STV problem” at Princeton University, it is clear that quite a number of those with responsibility for these elections did not properly understand the principles of STV-PR.