Ive spent the evening looking at the 2014 election results and comparing the DHondt system we currently use with the result we would have got if we used Saint-Lague. For those who dont know, Saint-Lague is an alternate counting method. It works in the same way as DHondt except that instead of dividing the votes of each party in each round by the number of seats theyve had elected + 1, you divide it by twice the number of seats theyve had elected + 1. Generally speaking, Saint-Lague favours smaller parties. As you can see from the figures, using this system would have given the Green Party 3 more seats for a total of 6, the Lib Dems 2 more seats for a total of 3, and would have cost Ukip 3 seats and Labour and the Tories a seat each. Party DHondt Saint Lague Difference Strict Proportionality (England, Scotland, Wales totals) UK Independence Party 24 21 -3 19 Labour 20 19 -1 18 Conservative 19 18 -1 17 Green 3 6 3 6 Liberal Democrat 1 3 2 5 Scottish National Party 2 2 0 2 Plaid Cymru 1 1 0 0 You can look at my workings here. Let me know if Ive made any mistakes: https://docs.google/spreadsheets/d/1yaWmnEYDpFa3BYsNJYlsr4OhGx8BZ5-voXCsohmzuJs/edit?usp=sharing
Posted on: Mon, 26 May 2014 23:53:04 +0000