Detailed View

Name Howard Lastman
Submission Number 2145
Location Ontario, Canada
Categories
Principles
Summary Condorcet elections have been used for public elections. The city of Marquette, Michigan, U.S.A. once used a Condorcet voting system known as Nanson's Method for the election of all city officials. Condorcet elections are properly classified by Hoag and Hallett as majority preferential voting and not as proportional representation.
Length 2 pages
Date 2007-02-28
Submission
Condorcet elections have been used for public elections. The city of Marquette, Michigan, U.S.A. once used a Condorcet voting system known as Nanson's Method for the election of all city officials. Condorcet elections are properly classified by Hoag and Hallett as majority preferential voting and not as proportional representation. Source: C G Hoag and G H Hallett, Proportional Representation, New York: MacMillan, 1926 at pp 491 - 494. E-Mail from Russ Magnaghi follows: RE: Marquette Electoral History Question Mon, 9 Oct 2006 12:21:15 -0400 Hello Howard- I have been through much of Marquette's history but never heard of the Condorcet voting system. Politics in Marquette County and the Upper Peninsula in general has been a topic all but ignored in the past. I will ask around to see if anything surfaces. Cheers, Russ Magnaghi -----Original Message----- From: H. Lastman Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 10:44 AM To: Russell Magnaghi Cc: Howard Lastman Subject: Marquette Electoral History Question TO: Russell Magnaghi Professor of History & Interim Department Head FROM: Howard Lastman RE: Marquette Electoral History Question DATE: October 9, 2006 ________________________________________ You may or may not be aware that Marquette, Michigan has a unique electoral history. Apparently, in the 1920s, Marquette used what is known as a Condorcet voting system in public elections. This is an interesting system and has never before or since been used in public elections (to the best of my knowledge). To be more specific the voting system used in Marquette during the 1920s is known as Nanson's Method. This system has been used in various organizations such as universities. My questions are as follows: (1) When was Condorcet voting first used in Marquette? (2) When was Condorcet voting last used in Marquette? (3) Where there any obvious political consequences to using Condorcet voting (such as impacts on the party system or voter turnout or spoiled ballots)? (4) Why did Marquette start using Condorcet voting? (5) Why did Marquette stop using Condorcet voting? (6) Are there any other peculiar features of elections in Marquette at this time that I should know about (context)?

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