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Tom Monto

Canadian/U.S. STV Stats, 1917-1971 - election of MLAs and city councils - the numbers, the facts, the goodness

Updated: Oct 10

These stats are taken from

Joseph P. Harris

"Practical Workings of proportional representation in the U.S. and Canada"

National Municipal Review, 19 (5) May 1930 (pages 337-383)


In 1930 when Harris wrote that article, a form of proportional representative, Single Transferable Voting (STV), had been used in eight U.S. cities in 29 elections, and in 20 Canadian municipalities in about 90 elections. [Yes, 90!]


At that time three Canadian cities had used STV for more than 10 years, two being the substantial cities of Calgary and Winnipeg. The other was West Vancouver, which was that year using STV for the last time.


A fourth place, the Winnipeg suburb of St. James, was also using STV and had used it since 1923.


Harris said that in municipal government the problem facing the U.S. municipality was not that of representing national political parties fairly but rather that of getting rid of such parties altogether and securing a system of representation that will produce satisfactory city councils. This was achievable through STV, as proven by the cities who had adopted it, he said. (He went on to suggest simplificaitons of STV, whcih are described in the Montopedia blog "Simplifications...")


Warning for readers: Harris, the author of the source for much of this info, noted that the stats that show the small number of initially-less-popular candidates who rose up to take a seat is not meant to show that transfers are not valuable. The possibility that the vote will be transferred if necessary relieves the voter of having to consider if his or her first choice is electable. But half or more of votes cast bear first preferences for a candidate who are elected at the beginning, partway through the vote count process or at the end.


And the stats also show that the basic structure - single voting in a MMD - is robust. Modifications and improvements are not necessary to produce roughly proportional representation and fair voting. Nor, as Harris pointed out, will they unduly affect the fair operation of STV. (Harris, p. 378)


For example, Droop was used in all these appllcations of STV (except New York) but even if a simpler formula was used to produce the quota (such as votes/seats+1), the result would almost certainly be exactly the same - mixed, balanced representation in each district and in each city.


New York

New York stands out for not using the Droop quota, but instead using a fixed quota ("uniform quota") and using boroughs as multi-seat districts. The number of elected members in each borough and overall varied depending on voter turnout. Have not been able to find the voting count reports but expect that some were elected with less than quota as in regular STV, but fairness from borough to borough was at exceptionally high level, even compared to fairness produced by Droop-quota-based STV where multi-seat wards were used.


DM in a borough varied from 2 to 9. Most common DM was in range five to 7.

New York's DM in each borough was not preset but was determined by voter turnout.


====================

STV cities arranged in order of the year they began to use STV (see footnote for names of cities listed)


Ashtabula, Ohio city elections rejected exh. elected Initial eff.

Year seats cand. quota votes votes (p.c.) votes with p.q. non-w. votes

1915 7 3334 1

1917 7 3438 11

1919 7 3294 14

1921 7 5154 3 1*

1923 7 5196 3

1925 7 4781 5

1927 7 6215 5 1*

1929 7 6107 4 4*

1929? voted to cancel STV

dropped STV 1929?

(source: Harris. p. 377)


Remarks (*):

in first eight Ashtabula STV elections, 56 were elected, eight were initially non-winners.

In 1921 and 1927 Rinto was intially lower down, but he rose up to take a seat.


1929 election

Voters who saw first preference elected -- 61 percent.

Voters who saw their ballot used to elect first preference -- 61 percent.

(Harris, page 368)

Barber, PR and Electoral Reform in Ohio  p. 83-115

===================


Calgary city elections  (Alberta) rejected exh. elected Initial Eff.

Year seats cand. quota votes votes (p.c.) votes with p.q. non-w. votes


1917 9 5367

1918 7069

1919 6 7401

1920 8401

1921 9503

1922 13,485

1923 11.093

1924 6/7 10,445 0

1925 6/7 10,897 0

1926 6/7 0

1927 6/7 0

1928 6/7 0

1929

dropped STV after 1971 election

(source: Harris, p. 376, 377)

6/7 means either 6 or 7


Remarks

STV brought in after positive referendum in 1916

No referendum held on STV from 1917 to 1929.




New Westminster, BC city election

1917

1918?


Remarks

STV adoped by ordinance in 1917

STV repealed by ordinance in 1919

see


Nelson, BC rejected exh. elected Initial Eff.

Year seats cand. quota votes votes (p.c.) votes with p.q. non-w. votes

1917

1918?


Remarks

STV adopted by ordinance in 1917

STV repealed by ordinance in 1919



Port Coquitlam, BC

1917

1918?

1919

1920?

Remarks

STV adopted in 1917 no info available on process of adoption

STV repealed by ordinance in 1921



Mission City, BC

1917

1918?

1919

1920?


Remarks

STV adopted by ordinance in 1917

STV repealed by ordinance in 1921



Boulder, Colorado

had nine-member council, three elected each year, staggered terms

1917 3

1919 3

1921 3

1923 3

1925 3

1927 3

1929 3


Remarks

referendum held on cancelling PR in 1923 and 1925. both saw majority vote in favour of retention of STV

dropped STV in 1947.

high incidence of blank or rejected ballots. it seems likely that many were blank where voter voted on referendum propositions but did not care about municipal election. referendum propositions were especially contentious in 1923, 1925 and 1929, when blank and rejected were recorded at 19, 20, and 27 percent respectively. (Harris, p. 361)



Kalamazoo, Michigan

1918 7

1919 7

1919/1920 state of Michigan banned STV


Remarks

1918 both conservatives and socialists elected each time

Truxton Talbot, a radical, elected but calmed down after election. socialist ticket did not support him when he ran for re-election in 1918

1919 election Conservative and socialist camp each lost one seat. two Independents elected

(Harris, p. 362. 363)


South Vancouver, BC city elections

   rejected exh. elected Initial Eff.

Year seats cand. quota votes votes (p.c.) votes with p.q. non-w. votes

1918


STV ended when Sth. Van. was annexed by Vancouver in 1929.




Regina, Saskatchewan city elections

1921

1922

1923

1024

1925

1926


Remarks

STV brought in after positive referendum in 1920

STV reconfirmed in referendum in 1923

STV cancelled after 1926 referendum


Saskatoon, Saskatchewan city elections

1921

1922

1923

1924

1925

1926


Remarks

STV brought in after positive referendum in 1920

STV reconfirmed in referendum in 1923

STV cancelled after 1926 referendum

Saskatoon once more adopted STV in 1938.


Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan city election

1921

1922

1923

1924

1925?


Remarks

STV brought in after positive referendum in 1920

STV cancelled after 1925 referendum


North Battleford, Saskatchewan city elections

1921

1922

1923

1924


Remarks

STV brought in after positive referendum in 1920

STV cancelled after 1924 referendum


Winnipeg, Manitoba city elections rejected exh. elected Initial Eff.

Year seats cand. quota votes votes (p.c.) votes with p.q. non-w. votes

1920

1921

1922

1923

1924

1925

1926

1927

1928

1929

[many more]

dropped STV before 1971 election

Remarks

From 1920 to 1928 81 elected. 75 were among the three highest in each district.

Six who were in 4th position were elected.

1920 (Ward 2) Labour Party candidate Jessie Kirk was initially not among leaders but through transfers rose up to take a seat, becoming the first woman on city council.

ran again in 1922, 1923, 1926 and 1934 but not elected.


Winnipeg, Manitoba (Manitoba provincial elections)

1920

1922

1927

1932

1936

1941

1945

1949

1953

dropped STV 1955


Vancouver, BC city elections

1921 Jan?

1921 Dec?

1922 Dec?


Remarks

STV brought in after positive referendum in 1920

STV cancelled after 1923 referendum



Victoria, BC city elections

1921


Remarks

STV brought in after positive referendum in 1920

STV cancelled after 1921 referendum



Sacramento, California

1921 9

1922 STV found to be unconstitutional


Remarks

the STV-elected 1921-1922 council included several successful businessmen, a businesswoman, a head of a labour council, a former fire chief and a bookkeeper.

1921 election was a success achieving all that proponents of STV had claimed for it, according to one eyewitness.

(Harris, p. 364)



West Hartford, Connecticut

1921

1922

prior to 1923 election, Connecticut state government banned cities from using STV.


Remarks

(Harris, p. 364)



St. James (Manitoba) city elections

1924?


Remarks

STV brought in after positive referendum in 1923 (Harris, p. 367)

used STV up to 1970 or so.



Edmonton city elections rejected exh. elected Initial Eff.

Year seats cand. quota votes votes (p.c.) votes with p.q. non-w. votes

1923

1924

1925

1926

1927

Remarks

STV used only in five city elections

STV brought in after positive referendum in 1922

STV cancelled after referendum of 1927



Cleveland city elections   rejected exh. elected succ. in. Eff.

Year seats cand. quota votes votes (p.c.) votes with p.q. non-w. votes

1923 114,613

1925 108,167

1927 163,901

1929 25* 130,101 16*

dropped STV ?

(source: Harris. p. 377)

SEE Harris, p. 375

Barber, PR and Electoral Reform in Ohio p. 116-159


Compilation information

by 1930,

100 8


Remarks

1929 election voters who saw first preference elected 55.7 percent

voters who saw their ballot used to elect first preference 53 percent

(district breakdown available on page 368)



 Cincinnati city elections rejected exh. elected Initial Eff.

Year seats cand. quota votes votes (p.c.) votes with p.q. non-w. votes

1925 9 124,091 4 1

1927 9 131.416 5 2

1929 9 145,464 4 1

[many more]

dropped STV 1957

(source: Harris. p. 377)

SEE Harris, p. 376

Barber, PR and Electoral Reform in Ohio  p. 160-208


Remarks:

first three elections -- all elected with quota but the votes of the last candidate eliminated are transferred there.*

1925 Mathews elected although initially non-winner.

1927 candidates initially in t0th and 11th position rose up to take seats.

1929 Pollak, a wealthy Jewish Charter (reform) slate cand, rose from 12th position to take a seat from initially 8th-position candidate. (Harris, p. 377)


1929 election voters who saw first preference elected 57 percent

voters who saw their ballot used to elect first preference 51 percent

(Harris, page 368)



Edmonton (Alberta provincial elections)

1926 5 elected.

1930 6

1935 5

1940 5

1944 6

1948 6

1952 7

1955 7

dropped STV 1956


Calgary (Alberta provincial elections)

1926 5 elected

1930

1935

1940

1944

1948

1952

1955

dropped STV 1956



Hamilton (Ohio) city elections

1927 7 0

1929 7 1

[many more , eventually dropping STV in 1962]


Remarks

1927 election elected members were: four Charter Commission candidates, two candidates of a Public Ownership League, and one Democrat who had support from a faction of the Republican party. Council named Charter member Burke to be mayor.

in first two STV elections, only one not initially in winning position rose up to take a seat.

Hamilton elections, 1927 and 1929: 84 and 85 percent effective votes, respectively.

1929 election: voters who saw first preference elected 72 percent

voters who saw their ballot used to elect first preference 60 percent

(Harris, page 361, 368)



Lethbridge city election

1928


Remarks

STV brought in after positive 1928 referendum on city-manager plan and PR

STV cancelled after pre-election referendum of 1929



After 1930


Wheeling, West Virginia

adopted STV year unknown

dropped STV in 1951


Toledo (Ohio)

1935 9 seats filled using STV

1937

1939

1941

1943

1945

1947

1949


Remarks

1934 referendum in favour of city manager and Council of 9, elected by PR received majority of votes.

1935, 1937, 1945, 1946 referendum in favour of replacing PR with BV or FPP defeated.

1949 referendum in favour of replacing PR with BV, with a primary to reduce candidates to 18, passed. (Barber, PR in Ohio, p. 244)



New York

fixed quota, variable number of members elected in each borough and overall

1937?

1939

1941

1943

1945?

(see Montopedia blog "New York...")



Saskatoon, SK

adopted STV for second time

1938

1940

1942

dropped STV in 1942



Cambridge, Mass.

adopted STV in 1941

still using STV today



Lowell, Mass.

dropped STV in


Long Beach, NY

dropped STV in


Coos Bay, Oregon

dropped STV in


Norris, Tennessee

dropped STV in


Yonkers, NY

dropped STV in 1948


Long Beach, NY

discarded STV in 1947.


Hopkins, Minnesota adopted STV ca. 1946. dropped STV in 1957


Oak Ridge Tennessee adopted STV ca. 1947. dropped STV around 1955.


These five cities in Mass. adopted STV in the 1950s.

Saugus, Mass.

Worcester, Mass. used STV 1949 dropped STV in 1961

Medford, Mass.

Quincy, Mass.

Revere, Mass.


===================

1971 end of this study

in 1971 Calgary used STV in its city council for last time; Winnipeg used STV for the last time shortly before 1971.


The only city in the U.S. using STV in 1971 was Cambridge, Mass.

=======================================


Source of information above

*Harris, Practical Working of STV (1930), p. 381



formatting

1917

1918

1919

1920

1921

1922

1923

1924

1925

=======================


Citations of sources in Harris

referendums see p. 367


Comparison to cities that use Block voting - Detriot and Dayton p. 368-9


Canadian use of STV by 1930

General breakdown of City STV

20 cities -- AB 3, BC 8, SK 4 MB 5 (only 2 of the 5 recorded in Harris)

Alberta 3

Calg

Edm.

Lethb


BC 8

Nelson

Vanc

Vict

Port C

Mission

Sth Van

West Van

New Westm.


Saskatchewan 4

Regina

Saskatoon (used STV two separate periods)

Moose Jaw

N. Battleford


Manitoba 5

2 - Winnipeg, St. James

(three more, not recorded in Harris - St. Boniface, Transcona, St. Vital)


============================================

U.S. STV cities Pre-1930

According to Harris, by 1930 STV used in eight cities in the U.S. in 29 elections

Ashtabula 8 (stopped around 1930) (Barber, p. 105)

Boulder 7 (more elections after 1930)

Kalamazoo 2 (more elections after 1930)

Sacramento 1 (stopped using STV after just one election)

Cleveland 4 (more elections after 1930)

Cincinnati 3 (STV ended pre-1930)

Hamilton 2 (more elections after 1930)

West Hartford 2 (more elections after 1930)

29 elections

8 cities prior to 1930


From 1930 to 1971

Toledo, Ohio

New York, NY

Cambridge, MA

Lowell, Mass.

Long Beach, NY

Coos Bay, Oregon

Norris, Tennessee

Yonkers, NY

Long Beach, NY

Hopkins, Minnesota adopted STV ca. 1946. dropped STV in 1957

Oak Ridge Tennessee adopted STV ca. 1947. dropped STV around 1955.

Saugus, Mass.

Worcester, Mass. used STV 1949 dropped STV in 1961

Medford, Mass.

Quincy, Mass.

Revere, Mass.

16 adopted STV after 1930

(more info available in this Montopedia blog:


=============================================

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