Proportional Representation Software
This is an attempt at documenting what software is available to help
run PR elections. If you have any further information please send some
e-mail
to
me, preferably in
this format.
Desirable properties of computerised vote counting
A while back I came up with some desirable properties of
computerised vote counting systems and have listed some below.
If you are implementing such a system you I suggest you consider them.
Any comments are welcome.
- Consider the larger picture.
- The code which counts formal votes is only one part of a larger
system. The most error prone and time consuming part of the system is
likely to be data entry. Candidates may be able to withdraw at any
stage and other complications might arise. Software should be designed
in conjunction with procedures for running the whole election.
- Make it voter-friendly.
- Computerising the vote count should be convenient
for the people who count the votes but not at the expense of
inconveniencing the voters. For example, special ballot
papers which make data entry very easy but voting very difficult are best
avoided.
- Allow for manual counting as a backup.
- The counting rules and procedures followed should be amenable to
manual counting in case the computerised system is not seen to be
working correctly. As computerised systems get more established this
may become less important.
- Document the system.
- The counting rules, procedures and source code should be
well documented.
- Make source code available for inspection.
- This can help in detecting bugs and raising confidence in the
system.
- Use defensive coding.
- Code should contain cross checks et cetera just like manual
counting procedures. Arithmetic overflows should be checked for.
- Avoid floating point calculations.
- Due to rounding errors, the results of floating point calcuations
can be difficult to predict and reproduce. The result of an election
should not depend on the rounding errors which occur with a particular
combination of hardware and system software.
Using integers or "infinite precision" rational numbers is preferable.
- Authenticate code and votes.
- It is possible to tamper with code, especially source code.
Similarly, files of votes can be accidentally or deliberately
corrupted. Digital signature techniques should be used to authenticate
files which are stored or transmitted in insecure ways.
List of known software
- PRSA online system
- Functionality
- Quota Preferential/STV vote counting using the Australian
PR Society Rules (approximately)
- Limitations
-
Runs on someone else's computer over an insecure network.
Basically a prototype.
Poor data entry facilities.
No limits on number of votes etc but
counting more than 1000 is probably not a great idea.
Documentation is sadly lacking.
- Hardware/Software required
- World Wide Web browser with form support
- Source/Binary availability
- It runs over the WWW so you don't need either, but source code
(written in NU-Prolog) is available.
- Restrictions
- None
- Cost
- Free
- Additional information
- None
- Where do I get it?
- WWW interface:
http://www.cs.mu.OZ.AU/~lee/prsa/count/count_form.html
Source code:
http://www.cs.mu.OZ.AU/~lee/prsa/count/count.nl.txt
Mail lee@cs.mu.oz.au if you have
any trouble.
- Dated
- Feb 16 1996
-
PRMaster Version 1.3
- Functionality
-
PRMaster is a very mature and well tested product, currently in use in
governmental and non-governmental elections.
Accepts a very large number of options, so it supports a wide variety of STV
rules. Data is in an easy to read and configurable ASCII format, and can be
stored in many files if desired.
Has a number of auditing capabilities, such as storing the actual ranks
voters placed in the data, a report listing every transfer that occurs with
transfer values, etc.
Has options for thresholds, surplus transfers, tie breaking, duplicate
rankings, simultaneous transferring (from winners or losers), and much more.
Supports write-ins and recounts.
Has built in support for Cambridge and New York rules.
- Limitations
-
Number of votes is limited only by the amount of memory in the machine. The
number of candidates is currently limited to 500. The largest tests that we
know of had over 100,000 votes and over 100 candidates.
Does not have much of a user interface. Since it reads ASCII files, in
non-governmental elections the votes are manually entered with another
program (e.g. Notepad). Then PRMaster is run, and told to load the
appropriate file.
Several companies and individuals have written front-ends that will output
PRMaster formatted files; it is not that hard to do. For governmental
elections, contact Global Elections Systems or Sequoia Pacific.
-
- Hardware/Software required
-
PRMaster Version 1.32 runs on Windows.
PRMaster Version 2.0 will run on virtually any machine, but is not due for
general availability until June of 1999.
- Restrictions
-
Because it doesn't have much of a user-interface, the operator needs to be
reasonably technically proficient. Must be able to read a manual, produce
files in the proper format, copy them where they should go, and the like.
For non-governmental elections that are not conducted by mail, a laptop
computer is very helpful.
- Cost
-
Cost includes license, documentation and technical support. Cost varies
substantially depending on the usage of the program.
For governmental elections, PRMaster's standard price is a one-time cost
$10,000 per jurisdiction.
For PR activists who just need something for demonstration elections or for
small non-governmental elections, an appropriate version is available for as
little as $25 US (and if that is too much for you, let us know, we'll talk).
All prices are subject to change without notice. Larger sales, such as
agreements with hardware vendors, value added sales, and sales to large
non-governmental organizations are typically agreed to on an as-needed basis.
- Additional information
-
See
http://www.jerel.com
- Where do I get it?
-
Contact Steve Willett at
stevew@initcomp.com
to obtain PRMaster.
- Dated
-
Feb. 20, 1999.
Jim Lindsay
<jimlindsay@jerel.com>
.
ERS system
(Information here may not be correct or complete)
This system is no longer available; a Windows product
is promised in the future
- Functionality
- Counts votes using various STV rule sets (ERS, Church of England,
Meek). Also has reasonably good data entry system.
- Limitations
- Number of votes < 10000?
Poor documentation.
Source code not available.
- Hardware/Software required
- IBM PC running DOS
- Restrictions
- Licence required
- Cost
- 70 pounds Sterling
- Additional information
- None
- Where do I get it?
- Mail ers@reform.demon.co.uk
or write to the
Electoral Reform Society of Great Britain and Ireland
6 Chancel Street
Blackfriars
London SE1 OUU
UK
- Dated
- Feb 27 1996
Lee