[Lnc-business] At-Large Elections

Sat Jul 7 09:11:52 EDT 2018

I don't believe anyone actually objected to it in any kind of way other than to make displeasure in it public and use it as motivation to fix it.
I also believe that while you are correct on the voting system being a problem, that you are incorrect in the other things being discussed missing the point.
Both need to be fixed, so both need to be discussed.  However, fixing the voting appears to be a bylaws matter that we may not be able to fix before the next time it is needed.  I hope that we can, and honestly should be a relatively simple change.  
Faster voting methods may also need to be in the bylaws, but are also important for a couple simple reasons.  First is that it would still minimize the time tied up, allowing us time for other things.  Secondly, what if the delegates do not elect to make the bylaws change?  Then we will be in the same position again and having a better collection/tabulation method will help that immensely.  Indeed most of the dissatisfaction I am seeing from my region is due to the method of collecting votes, NOT the approval voting system, which is cumbersome but allows them to express their voice.
John PhillipsLibertarian National Committee Region 6 RepresentativeCell 217-412-5973
------ Original message------From: Nicholas Sarwark via Lnc-business Date: Fri, Jul 6, 2018 11:43 PMTo: lnc-business at hq.lp.org;Cc: Nicholas Sarwark;Subject:[Lnc-business] At-Large Elections
Dear All,

Pursuant to the delegates suspension of the rules at convention after
overturning the ruling of the Chair, the top five vote-getters are
properly elected to the At-Large seats on the LNC by the delegates in
convention.  Objections to the procedure taken by the delegates are
out of order, as such objections have to be properly raised during the
convention session.

As to the Judicial Committee, I'll defer to Chuck Moulton's analysis
and suggest that the LNC pass a motion that acknowledges the top seven
vote-getters as the Judicial Committee.

There has been a lot of discussion about convention schedules,
electronic voting systems, errors in tallying, etc. These discussions
miss the point.  Using approval voting for a multi-member election
that does not allow for winning by plurality is likely the worst
possible election method to get At-Large members elected.

In the past, we were allowed to vote for as many candidates as there
were positions available, and we rarely went to a second ballot.  An
instant runoff or single transferable system would reallocate those
votes for candidates with minimal support.

If the goal of At-Large members is to represent interest groups within
the Libertarian Party, we are using the wrong voting system.  If it is
merely to determine who is most popular in the party, we are using the
correct system, but it will continue to produce results like we've had
two conventions in a row based on the nature of the system.

In short, counting ballots faster doesn't matter if we're still voting wrong.

Yours truly,
Nick
-------------- next part --------------
   I don't believe anyone actually objected to it in any kind of way other
   than to make displeasure in it public and use it as motivation to fix
   it.
   I also believe that while you are correct on the voting system being a
   problem, that you are incorrect in the other things being discussed
   missing the point.
   Both need to be fixed, so both need to be discussed.
   However, fixing the voting appears to be a bylaws matter that we may
   not be able to fix before the next time it is needed.  I hope that we
   can, and honestly should be a relatively simple change.
   Faster voting methods may also need to be in the bylaws, but are also
   important for a couple simple reasons.  First is that it would still
   minimize the time tied up, allowing us time for other things.
   Secondly, what if the delegates do not elect to make the bylaws
   change?  Then we will be in the same position again and having a better
   collection/tabulation method will help that immensely.  Indeed most of
   the dissatisfaction I am seeing from my region is due to the method of
   collecting votes, NOT the approval voting system, which is cumbersome
   but allows them to express their voice.
   John Phillips
   Libertarian National Committee Region 6 Representative
   Cell [1]217-412-5973

   ------ Original message------
   From: Nicholas Sarwark via Lnc-business
   Date: Fri, Jul 6, 2018 11:43 PM
   To: [2]lnc-business at hq.lp.org;
   Cc: Nicholas Sarwark;
   Subject:[Lnc-business] At-Large Elections
Dear All,