"Let people vote and let the most voted option win" sounds simple. It is — until you have 6 candidates for 3 seats, or 4 proposals with fragmented support. In those cases, the vote counting system changes the outcome. This guide explains demokratian's 4 decision-making tallying systems and when to apply each.
Why the system matters
The same set of ballots can yield different winners depending on the counting method. This is not a flaw: it is the nature of collective decision-making. Your role as an organizer is to choose the method that best aligns with how you wish to reach a decision.
1. Unweighted voting (first-past-the-post / simple majority)
The simplest and most familiar method. Each voter selects one option (or multiple, if multi-choice). The option(s) with the highest vote count wins.
- Variant a: select one option from the list. The most voted option wins.
- Variant b: select up to N options from the list. The top N options win.
When to use:
- Binary choices (yes/no, approve/reject)
- Small number of distinct choices (2-4)
- When the most popular option is unambiguously the legitimate choice
When to avoid: with numerous candidates, a winner might secure only 30% support while remaining unacceptable to the other 70%. In such cases, the system rewards plurality rather than consensus.
Example: financial accounts approval. 87% yes, 13% no. Unweighted voting is ideal.
2. Borda count
Each voter ranks all (or a subset of) options from most preferred to least preferred. The tally assigns points per rank position in a linear scale: for N options, 1st place receives N-1 points, 2nd receives N-2, ..., last place receives 0.
Example with 4 candidates for a voter ranking C > A > D > B:
- C → 3 points
- A → 2 points
- D → 1 point
- B → 0 points
Points are aggregated across all ballots, and the candidate with the highest total score wins.
When to use:
- You want to select the candidate most acceptable to the overall electorate, rather than a divisive candidate with strong polarized backing
- Similar choices exist and second-preference votes should carry weight
- Committee or jury decisions where consensus is preferred over strict majoritarianism
Criticism: is vulnerable to tactical voting. If you know others' preferences, you can position "your" candidate and their rivals to benefit yours.
3. Dowdall system
A variant of the Borda count used in Nauru since the 1970s. Same principle — ranking — but with much faster decreasing weights:
- 1st choice → 1 point
- 2nd choice → 1/2 point (0.5)
- 3rd choice → 1/3 point (0.33)
- 4th choice → 1/4 point (0.25)
- ...
The distinction from standard Borda is significant: the first preference carries far greater weight than subsequent choices. Second place is worth half of first place, rather than "one point less".
When to use:
- You want to heavily reward each voter's top choice
- But you also want second and third preferences to count somewhat to prevent ties
- It serves as a balanced middle ground between "winner-takes-all" and an egalitarian Borda count
Example: internal primary elections with 6 candidates where you want the candidate with the strongest backing to win without ignoring secondary preferences.
4. STV — Single Transferable Vote (Irish tally system)
The most sophisticated and, in many contexts, the fairest system. It is used in general elections in Ireland, Malta, and Australia. It functions in elections where there are multiple seats to be filled (not just one).
How it works step-by-step:
- Each voter ranks the candidates in order of preference.
- The Droop quota is calculated: the minimum threshold of votes required to secure a seat. Formula:
(votos / (puestos + 1)) + 1. - First-preference votes are counted. Anyone exceeding the quota is declared elected.
- The surplus votes of elected candidates (votes received beyond the quota) are transferred proportionally to those voters' second preferences.
- If no candidate reaches the quota, the lowest-ranking candidate is eliminated, and their votes are transferred to the next preference.
- This process repeats until all seats are filled.
The main advantage: no votes are wasted. If your first choice is elected with surplus votes, your vote contributes to your second choice. If your first choice is eliminated, your vote transfers as well. Proportional representation is achieved naturally.
When to use:
- Elections to multi-member bodies: governing boards, executive committees, councils.
- When there are more candidates than open seats and you want proportional representation across different viewpoints.
- Partial or full renewals of executive boards.
Criticism: the count is complex and voters sometimes struggle to understand why their candidate lost. For this reason, publishing the complete step-by-step audit count is essential. demokratian does this automatically.
Comparison table
| System | Voting method | Best suited for | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unweighted | Select 1 (or N) options | Binary decisions or few distinct choices | Very low |
| Borda | Rank all options | Building consensus, electing the most acceptable option | Medium |
| Dowdall | Rank all options | Rewarding the favorite candidate without ignoring nuance | Medium |
| STV (Irish system) | Rank candidates | Filling multiple seats with proportional representation | High |
How to configure each system in demokratian
In the admin dashboard, when creating an election:
- Voting type → choose between tallying systems (unweighted, Borda, Dowdall, or STV) or consultation types (Survey, Debate)
- Number of seats (STV only) → number of representatives to elect
- Mandatory or partial ranking (in Borda, Dowdall, STV) → whether voters must rank all candidates or can leave options unranked
- Quorum → minimum voter turnout for valid election results
- Show detailed count → recommended always, especially for STV
Summary and recommendations
If you need to decide and are unsure, here is our practical recommendation:
- Deciding a single matter among few choices: unweighted.
- Electing one person/option among many and seeking consensus: Borda (or Dowdall if you want to give more weight to top choices).
- Electing multiple members to a governing body: STV.
Above all: always publish the complete tally. Transparency in the voting process provides legitimacy to the result, regardless of the method used.