Reweighted Range Voting with a Choice Constant

[Brian Langstraat]

Reweighted Range Voting (RRV) is a Proportional Representation (PR) voting method that feels like range voting described at http://www.rangevoting.org/RRV.html.

The example reweighting equation is [weight = 1/(1+SUM/MAX)] where SUM is the sum of the scores that ballot gives to the winners-so-far, while MAX is the maximum allowed score.

The noted general equation is [weight = K / (K + SUM/MAX)] where K is any positive constant.

An equivalent general equation is [weight = 1/(1+(1/K)*SUM/MAX)] or  [weight = 1/(1+C*SUM/MAX)] where C is any positive constant equal to 1/K.

As C decreases, the weight increases which tends to favor larger parties.  When C is 0, RRV becomes Approval Voting (AV).

As C increases, the weight decreases which tends to favor smaller parties and independent candidates.  As C approaches infinity, RRV becomes Single Non-Transferable Voting (SNTV).

Lets call C the Choice Constant.

In a PR vote with multiple winners, voters could select a numerical score from a range (e.g. 0 to 4) for each candidate. Additionally, they could select a numerical score from a range (e.g. 0 to 4) for the Choice Constant.  The average of every voter score for Choice Constant would be used for reweighing all of their range votes.

 

Reweighted Range Voting with a Choice Constant would allow voters to have more control of the reweighing process.

Are there any improvements (or flaws) to this voting method?

[Brian Langstraat]

Correction:

As C decreases, the weight increases which tends to favor larger parties.  When C is 0, RRV becomes Approval Voting (AV).

As C increases, the weight decreases which tends to favor smaller parties and independent candidates.  As C approaches infinity, RRV becomes Single Non-Transferable Voting (SNTV).

Should be:

As C decreases, the weight increases which tends to favor larger parties and partisan majorities.  When C is 0, RRV becomes Range Voting (RV) for PR with multiple non-transferable votes.  With highly strategic voters, RRV becomes Approval Voting (AV) for PR.

As C increases, the weight decreases which tends to favor smaller parties and independent candidates.  As C approaches infinity, RRV becomes RV for PR with only one vote.  With highly strategic voters, RRV becomes Single Non-Transferable Voting (SNTV) for PR.