Comments on: Italian electoral reform and preference votes http://chrishanretty.co.uk/blog/index.php/2008/07/20/italian-electoral-reform-and-preference-votes/ Notes on Italian politics and public broadcasting Mon, 17 May 2010 12:25:25 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Chris http://chrishanretty.co.uk/blog/index.php/2008/07/20/italian-electoral-reform-and-preference-votes/comment-page-1/#comment-29516 Chris Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:53:09 +0000 http://chrishanretty.co.uk/blog/index.php/2008/07/20/italian-electoral-reform-and-preference-votes/#comment-29516 The usual rap against preferential voting is that it leads to corruption; the incentives to cultivate a personal (and corrupt) vote are too high to resist. That's less so in Australia, where only one person has to be elected, and, AFAIK, only one candidate per party stands. If voters vote first on the basis of party, the incentives to cultivate a personal vote are reduced. Then again, much of this literature is based on Italy (surprise!) and Japan. See Eric Chang, "Electoral Incentives for Political Corruption under Open-List Proportional Representation", Journ. of Politics, Vol. 67 (3) (2005) The usual rap against preferential voting is that it leads to corruption; the incentives to cultivate a personal (and corrupt) vote are too high to resist. That’s less so in Australia, where only one person has to be elected, and, AFAIK, only one candidate per party stands. If voters vote first on the basis of party, the incentives to cultivate a personal vote are reduced. Then again, much of this literature is based on Italy (surprise!) and Japan. See Eric Chang, “Electoral Incentives for Political Corruption under Open-List Proportional Representation”, Journ. of Politics, Vol. 67 (3) (2005)

]]> By: Guido http://chrishanretty.co.uk/blog/index.php/2008/07/20/italian-electoral-reform-and-preference-votes/comment-page-1/#comment-29487 Guido Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:24:01 +0000 http://chrishanretty.co.uk/blog/index.php/2008/07/20/italian-electoral-reform-and-preference-votes/#comment-29487 Interesting Chris. As someone who lives under a <a href="http://www.eca.gov.au/systems/single/by_category/preferential.htm" rel="nofollow"> preferential voting system</a> that I think works fairly well I like the system. One thing that we also do in most 'upper houses' here in Australia (ie senate etc.) is that there is no arbitrary percentage limit (sbarramento) <a>but a quota is calculated</a> a bit more complicated perhaps, but I think more fair. Interesting Chris.

As someone who lives under a preferential voting system that I think works fairly well I like the system.

One thing that we also do in most ‘upper houses’ here in Australia (ie senate etc.) is that there is no arbitrary percentage limit (sbarramento) but a quota is calculated a bit more complicated perhaps, but I think more fair.

]]> By: Caminadella http://chrishanretty.co.uk/blog/index.php/2008/07/20/italian-electoral-reform-and-preference-votes/comment-page-1/#comment-28488 Caminadella Sun, 20 Jul 2008 08:34:27 +0000 http://chrishanretty.co.uk/blog/index.php/2008/07/20/italian-electoral-reform-and-preference-votes/#comment-28488 Principled opinions are always strangely aligned with the interests of their supporters. Principled opinions are always strangely aligned with the interests of their supporters.

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