Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-03
CHANGE IN ELECTION
SYSTEM DISCUSSED.
Research Bureau Cites CIeve-
land proportional Represent
tation" Plan Of Voting
CANDIDATES WIN ON QUOTA

The benefits Of proportional repre-
sentation." the election system used
in Cleveland and some other cities, were
discussed today by the Bureau of Mu-
nicipal Research in its weekly bulletin.
when YOU vote. does your vote
count?" the bureau asked. in cmpha-
sizing the thought running through its
comments. Methods of electing Coun-
cilmcn arc Of peculiar interest to Phila-
delphia, 1t stated. because next year
successors vii be chosen for the entire
twenty one members Of Council.
At the municipal election next year,
the bureau said. the voters want the
unquestioned ability to retain members
whose records are approved and to re-
place members who have not been sat-
isfactory from the voters point of view.
The bureau continued:
Cites Cleveland System
Proportional representation as
Clevelnnd's election system is called. Is
based on the principle that if $50 900
vote for twenty one councilmen, any
body who can show that he IS the pref
erencc of one twenty first of the $50,
600 voters is entitled to a scat in Coun-
Gil.
1T is a further principle OF the ad-
vocatcS of proportional representation
that each voter should have his vote
count for one candidate and only one
If we lived in n pure democracy. each
Of us would sit in the council cham
ber and take part in the policy. deter
mining we want done there. Since we
live in representative democracy II is
the duty and privilege Of each of us TO
find a representative worthy, or most
nearly worthy, of expressing our point
of view. II one OF US tries TO work
things so as to secure two representa- :
rivos. he is loading the dice--and II
he is allowed to have his ballot counted
for as many candidates as there are
seats TO be filed. then the largest or
ganized group Of voters usually will
elect its entire slate, leaving the rest
of the voters entirely without repre-
sentation. Then the Government is not
similar 10 democracy at all. but TO a
monarchy. with the largest organized
group of voters as monarch Majority
rule should apply when council makes
q decision but not in electing the body
which makes the decision.
The advocate of proportional repre-
sentation proposes to get back 10 the
basis of democracy by placing names
of candidates on the ballot by petition
and inviting each voter to mark them in
the order of his preference.
Those With Quota Win
"Whcn the votes are counted. there
is first determined the quota. or
proportion of ballots necessary to elect
a candidate. Any candidate with that
many votes is Immediately recognized n
elected. If he has more than the re-
| 0uir"d quota. his ballots in excess OF
the quota are transferred TO the Cundi :
dates whom the voters marked as their
second choices.
When all the surpluses are trans
ferred, If BY then the full number OF
successful candidates has not beer
chosen, a beginning Is made at the other
end of the list. The low candidates are
dropped, in order. and their ballot,
tranSforrcd according to the Scconc
and other choices marked on them, tC
the others still in the running, unit
the required number of successful can.
didates is determined.
proportional representation is ad
vorated because it insures voters against
wasting their ballots. If an over
wn"lming number of votes is cast for Il
popular candidate. no vote ia lost. be-
. cause the ballots not needed to elect
/ him are counted for III" second or third
or subsequent choices expressed or
them. The element OF chance involved
in selecting certain ballots, rather than
certain other ballots, for transfer. has
been calculated to be something less
/ than l per cent, and 1t may be elimi .
mated entirely. Nor need any one be
deferred from voting his honest
preference for fear that by 50 doing h
will he dividing the strength Of the op-
/ position to candidate he wishes par.
,icularly to defeat. He can mark hi,
second choice so his ballot will go to Il
third candidate whom he will accept ir
case tn" weaker candidate who H. hi.
preference cannot be elected. -