Simulating STV hand-counting by computers considered harmful: A.C.T

Rajeev Goré*, Ekaterina Lebedeva

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    We outline various ways in which the single transferable vote-counting (STV) algorithm used by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) differs from the basic STV algorithm as well-known from social choice theory. Most of these differences were instituted to make it easier and faster to determine the result of counting around 300,000 ballots by hand. We give small examples to show how such “simplifications” can lead to counter-intuitive results. We also argue that these “simplifications” significantly complicate computer implementation and general understanding of the counting procedure, especially in a mathematical sense. We then demonstrate the strange effects of these “simplifications” in real-world computer counted election results which were published by ACT Elections. It is imperative that electoral commissions begin the legislative processes required to replace their existing “simplified” STV with “unsimplified” STV.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationElectronic Voting - 1st International Joint Conference, E-Vote-ID 2016, Proceedings
    EditorsVanessa Teague, Melanie Volkamer, Josh Benaloh, P.Y.A. Ryan, Jordi Barrat, Nicole Goodman, Robert Krimmer
    PublisherSpringer Verlag
    Pages144-163
    Number of pages20
    ISBN (Print)9783319522395
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2017
    Event1st International Joint Conference on Electronic Voting, E-Vote-ID 2016 - Bregenz, Austria
    Duration: 18 Oct 201621 Oct 2016

    Publication series

    NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
    Volume10141 LNCS
    ISSN (Print)0302-9743
    ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

    Conference

    Conference1st International Joint Conference on Electronic Voting, E-Vote-ID 2016
    Country/TerritoryAustria
    CityBregenz
    Period18/10/1621/10/16

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