On 2010-11-04 18:53:53 -0500, Duggy said:   
   > On Nov 5, 6:41 am, Kathryn Huxtable    
   > wrote:   
   >> On 2010-11-04 14:06:06 -0500, Doug Freyburger said:   
   >>    
   >>> Kathryn Huxtable wrote:   
   >>    
   >>>> I *strongly* like preference voting, where you rank your preferences   
   >>>> for the candidates in order. "None of the above" would certainly be an   
   >>>> option. This is the way Hugo ballots are counted. I've heard that   
   >>>> Australia uses preference voting as well.   
   >>> The system of ranking the candidates 1 through N was called the   
   >>> Australian system as far back as I can remember so either they do use it   
   >>> or they used to.   
   >    
   >> Well, for all *I* knew, it was called that as some sort of obscure   
   >> insult that I didn't get. Maybe having to do with their being in the   
   >> southern hemisphere, whereas most of the population of the planet is in   
   >> the northern.   
   >    
   >> But I really *don't* know.   
   >    
   >> Duggy?   
   >    
   > Australia certainly does use the preferential system.  Obviously, we   
   > don't call it the Australia system but I won't say they don't use the   
   > term elsewhere.   
   >    
   > With the House of Reps that's pretty straight forward - count   
   > everyone, then recount the preferences for anyone who isn't going to   
   > win.   
   >    
   > Senate is a little different, it's preferential, proportionate voting   
   > so the top 6 candidates (for a state) or top 2 (I think, for a   
   > territory) get the job... so once they complete the count they recount   
   > a couple from the bottom and count their preferences and repeat until   
   > you get the top 6 candidates.   
   >    
   > In recent years, however there's been a slight change... you can vote   
   > above the line for one party or below the line 1 - N for every   
   > candidate.  Last couple of elections there have been 40 - 60   
   > candidates below the line.  I think that's too hard for most people,   
   > but I find a certain satisfaction voting for someone last.   
   >    
   > I'm sure none of that makes sense.   
   It makes *perfect* sense. If I could have done that for Sam Brownback    
   and Kris Kobach I would have. ;-)   
   Thanks for the clarification!   
   -K   
   --- SBBSecho 2.12-Win32   
    * Origin: Time Warp of the Future BBS - Home of League 10 (1:14/400)