Final proposed Board resolution for Board elections voting system

[Ian Jackson]

Ian Jackson writes ("Final proposed Board resolution for Board elections voting system"):
> NB that I will be offline on the 10th and 11th of March, and will have
> only limited network access between then and the Board meeting.  So if
> there are any more comments, please make them ASAP.

There were some comments about the rationale, and about the clarity of
the paragraph stating the primacy of the official rules over the
software.  I have updated para 1 and para 8, with the changes posted
previously.  There is no change to the effect of the resolution.

Last call.


WHEREAS

1. SPI's voting system for Board elections is unique to our
   organisation and has several problems; notably, a lack of
   proportionality.

2. SPI is not equipped to effectively design or analyse voting
   systems.  We wish to adopt a system widely used elsewhere, and
   which is recommended by civil society organisations specialising in
   voting reform.

3. The Single Transferrable Vote is the only proportional voting
   system, suitable for SPI, which meets these criteria.

4. The Scottish STV variant is clearly specified; we have an
   established and stable Free Software implementation of it; and it
   is straightforward to (re)implement.  Other STV variants appear to
   lack some of these good properties.

5. Ian Jackson has offered to help with the implementation of STV for
   SPI.

THEREFORE THE SPI BOARD RESOLVES

6. Future elections to the SPI Board will be counted according to the
   Scottish Single Transferrable Vote.  Scottish STV will also be used
   by SPI for any other multi-winner election.

7. Specifically, the algorithm to be used is that specified in
   Rules 45-52 of the Scottish Local Government Elections Order
   2007 (a UK Statutory Instrument):
      http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2007/42/schedule/1/part/III/crossheading/counting-of-votes/made

8. The practical implementation will be by means of software; for
   example, perhaps the openstv package in Debian.  The choice of
   software is up to the Secretary.  However, any differences between
   the the Rules in the Order referenced above, and whatever software
   implementation is chosen, are to be resolved in favour of the
   Rules.

9. The SPI Secretary is requested to liase with Ian Jackson, so that
   the necessary changes to SPI software and infrastructure can be
   identified and implemented.


-- 
Ian Jackson <ijackson at chiark.greenend.org.uk>   These opinions are my own.

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