ON THE ALTERNATE VOTE AND THE ONLY CORRECT 

 METHOD OF USING IT. 



By John Brown, M.D., CM., F.R.C.S., L.R.C.S.E. 



This alternate vote must not be confounded with the trans- 

 ferable vote. Both may be transferred when necessary ; in both 

 the voter expresses a second choice, but the alternate vote is 

 used only in selecting one member or official, while the transfer- 

 able vote is only used when more than two members are to be 

 elected. They are thus quite distinct and totally different. 



This paper is practically a synopsis of one by Professor E. J. 

 Nanson, of Melbourne University, extracts of which are published 

 in two English Blue Books, Cd. 3501, 1907, and Cd. 5163, 1910. 

 After some introductory remarks and definitions in Sections i — 12, 

 the seven usual methods of electing one candidate or official are 

 given, with a concrete example by Professor Nanson showing that 

 they may fail to give a correct result, that is to select the candi- 

 date most fit in the opinion of the majority of the voters : Sections 

 13 — 20. Then in some detail is given Professor Nanson's proof, 

 that under his method the candidate most preferred cannot be 

 thrown out at the first count, when of course he easily secures 

 the first place at the second. This is the essential point, where 

 other systems fail: Sections 21 and 22. An illustrative example 

 of Nanson's method of selecting the best of three candidates with 

 its four varieties follows : Sections 23, 24. The four Sections 

 25 — 28 describe Nanson's method with more than three candi- 

 dates. Its absolute correctness, the wide field of its application, 

 and the necessity of its adoption are then mentioned. 



SUBJECTS OF SECTIONS. 



1. Recommendation of the Royal Commission Cd. 5163, 

 1910. 



2. Selection of an official one of three applicants. 



3. Besides voting for one candidate, a second preference 

 must be given. 



4. The original vote does not necessarily indicate the best 



man ; the man the majority of the committee think most 

 fit may be thrown out at the first count. 



5. The essential point is to retain him at this first count. 

 This is done in Nanson's method, and under certain cir- 

 cumstances in the Venetian method. 



6. The three methods of counting used. 



7. Definition of " Best man." 



8. Absolute majority for one of two, or of three candidates 

 on the first count of original votes (section 23). 



9. Absolute minority : — when, counting all the votes and all 

 the preferences a candidate has fewer than half the num- 

 ber of voters. 



10. Of any three members, one is greater than the mean or 

 average, one is less ; the third may be the mean, or ma\ 

 be greater or less. 



