This illustrates how an ASUCD Senate vacancy can be filled democratically, without needing a special election. Voters' preferences are used from the election at which the vacating candidate was elected. This method, called the "countback," is a special feature of the ChoicePlus Pro software used by ASUCD. In this example, to decide James Ackerman's replacement, you'd look at all ballots that went to elect Ackerman (fractional or not) in the Fall election, along with all exhausted ballots from that election. Then conduct an IRV election on those ballots, skipping over already-elected candidates. In effect, this method asks the voters who elected the vacating candidate, along with the other unrepresented voters, who their next choice is. In practice, you'd want to ask all the potentially eligible candidates if they're still interested in serving before doing the countback. If some are not, you'd also skip over those candidates. The countback is a recognized method of filling vacancies democratically. The result is immediate, decisive, and fair. And unlike a single-winner special election, it preserves, as much as possible, the original cross-section of voter opinion. The countback example below was performed on the ballot data released by the ASUCD Election Committee, for the 2003-2004 Fall ASUCD Senate Election. CANDIDATES: Chris Goren (Student Focus) Ariadna Ramirez (LEAD) Juan Carlos Sanchez (LEAD) Leticia Miller (Student Focus) Dyanna Quizon (LEAD) Kenneth Bloom Xavjeir GdFaith Mee Vang (LEAD) Jared Vagy Caliph Assagai (LEAD) Benjamin Bidwell Tony Yu (Student Focus) Wesley Ryan Rajinder Sandhu (Student Focus) Kelsey Cassady (Student Focus) James Ackerman (Student Focus) ELECTION RULES: System: Instant Runoff Voting Threshold Type: Droop Simultaneous Drop: When mathematically inevitable Ties: 1) Previous Round method 2) By election official 3) Random (by computer) -------------------------------------------------- 1,998 valid ballots. 677.611 votes. Electing 1 candidate. Winning threshold is 339 votes. There were no invalid ballots. (1,998 total ballots processed.) -------------------------------------------------- ******************************************************************************** ROUND 1 -- Tally of 1st place votes. CANDIDATE THIS ROUND TOTAL STATUS ----------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------------------- Kelsey Cassady +136.76010 136.76010 CONTINUING Leticia Miller +122.22718 122.22718 CONTINUING Rajinder Sandhu +106.01486 106.01486 CONTINUING Kenneth Bloom +53.94664 53.94664 CONTINUING Jared Vagy +53.25362 53.25362 CONTINUING Wesley Ryan +39.82447 39.82447 CONTINUING Xavjeir GdFaith +38.88132 38.88132 CONTINUING Ariadna Ramirez +38.64808 38.64808 CONTINUING Mee Vang +26.58617 26.58617 DEFEATED -- 1st round Benjamin Bidwell +8.96795 8.96795 DEFEATED -- 1st round Chris Goren 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Tony Yu 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED James Ackerman 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Caliph Assagai 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Dyanna Quizon 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Juan Carlos Sanchez 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED EXHAUSTED PILE: +52.50034 52.50034 TOTALS: +677.61073 677.61073 -- Mee Vang is declared DEFEATED, as his/her defeat was mathematically inevitable. -- Benjamin Bidwell is declared DEFEATED, as his/her defeat was mathematically inevitable. ******************************************************************************** ROUND 2 -- Transferring all votes simultaneously from all defeated candidates. CANDIDATE THIS ROUND TOTAL STATUS ----------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------------------- Kelsey Cassady +2.31465 139.07475 CONTINUING Leticia Miller +8.89426 131.12144 CONTINUING Rajinder Sandhu +1.52248 107.53734 CONTINUING Kenneth Bloom +2.07378 56.02042 CONTINUING Jared Vagy +2.00184 55.25546 CONTINUING Ariadna Ramirez +6.94941 45.59749 CONTINUING Wesley Ryan +1.02839 40.85286 CONTINUING Xavjeir GdFaith +0.12879 39.01011 DEFEATED -- 2nd round Mee Vang -26.58617 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 1st round Benjamin Bidwell -8.96795 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 1st round Chris Goren 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Tony Yu 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED James Ackerman 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Caliph Assagai 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Dyanna Quizon 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Juan Carlos Sanchez 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED EXHAUSTED PILE: +10.64052 63.14086 TOTALS: 0.00000 677.61073 -- Xavjeir GdFaith is declared DEFEATED because s/he has the lowest number of votes. ******************************************************************************** ROUND 3 -- Xavjeir GdFaith has been DEFEATED -- transferring all votes. CANDIDATE THIS ROUND TOTAL STATUS ----------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------------------- Kelsey Cassady +1.41335 140.48810 CONTINUING Leticia Miller +5.15503 136.27647 CONTINUING Rajinder Sandhu +1.30100 108.83834 CONTINUING Kenneth Bloom +9.03971 65.06013 CONTINUING Jared Vagy +5.44534 60.70080 CONTINUING Ariadna Ramirez +3.04728 48.64477 CONTINUING Wesley Ryan +4.81520 45.66806 DEFEATED -- 3rd round Xavjeir GdFaith -39.01011 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 2nd round Mee Vang 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 1st round Benjamin Bidwell 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 1st round Chris Goren 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Tony Yu 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED James Ackerman 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Caliph Assagai 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Dyanna Quizon 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Juan Carlos Sanchez 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED EXHAUSTED PILE: +8.79320 71.93406 TOTALS: 0.00000 677.61073 -- Wesley Ryan is declared DEFEATED because s/he has the lowest number of votes. ******************************************************************************** ROUND 4 -- Wesley Ryan has been DEFEATED -- transferring all votes. CANDIDATE THIS ROUND TOTAL STATUS ----------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------------------- Kelsey Cassady +5.32606 145.81416 CONTINUING Leticia Miller +3.85668 140.13315 CONTINUING Rajinder Sandhu +4.99844 113.83678 CONTINUING Kenneth Bloom +10.88423 75.94436 CONTINUING Jared Vagy +5.72632 66.42712 CONTINUING Ariadna Ramirez +2.87544 51.52021 DEFEATED -- 4th round Wesley Ryan -45.66806 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 3rd round Xavjeir GdFaith 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 2nd round Mee Vang 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 1st round Benjamin Bidwell 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 1st round Chris Goren 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Tony Yu 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED James Ackerman 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Caliph Assagai 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Dyanna Quizon 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Juan Carlos Sanchez 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED EXHAUSTED PILE: +12.00089 83.93495 TOTALS: 0.00000 677.61073 -- Ariadna Ramirez is declared DEFEATED because s/he has the lowest number of votes. ******************************************************************************** ROUND 5 -- Ariadna Ramirez has been DEFEATED -- transferring all votes. CANDIDATE THIS ROUND TOTAL STATUS ----------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------------------- Leticia Miller +14.24134 154.37449 CONTINUING Kelsey Cassady +7.75634 153.57050 CONTINUING Rajinder Sandhu +4.55549 118.39227 CONTINUING Kenneth Bloom +8.00127 83.94563 CONTINUING Jared Vagy +4.44865 70.87577 DEFEATED -- 5th round Ariadna Ramirez -51.52021 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 4th round Wesley Ryan 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 3rd round Xavjeir GdFaith 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 2nd round Mee Vang 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 1st round Benjamin Bidwell 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 1st round Chris Goren 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Tony Yu 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED James Ackerman 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Caliph Assagai 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Dyanna Quizon 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Juan Carlos Sanchez 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED EXHAUSTED PILE: +12.51712 96.45207 TOTALS: 0.00000 677.61073 -- Jared Vagy is declared DEFEATED because s/he has the lowest number of votes. ******************************************************************************** ROUND 6 -- Jared Vagy has been DEFEATED -- transferring all votes. CANDIDATE THIS ROUND TOTAL STATUS ----------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------------------- Kelsey Cassady +18.78594 172.35644 CONTINUING Leticia Miller +15.07870 169.45319 CONTINUING Rajinder Sandhu +9.91075 128.30302 CONTINUING Kenneth Bloom +10.63379 94.57942 DEFEATED -- 6th round Jared Vagy -70.87577 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 5th round Ariadna Ramirez 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 4th round Wesley Ryan 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 3rd round Xavjeir GdFaith 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 2nd round Mee Vang 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 1st round Benjamin Bidwell 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 1st round Chris Goren 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Tony Yu 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED James Ackerman 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Caliph Assagai 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Dyanna Quizon 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Juan Carlos Sanchez 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED EXHAUSTED PILE: +16.46659 112.91866 TOTALS: 0.00000 677.61073 -- Kenneth Bloom is declared DEFEATED because s/he has the lowest number of votes. ******************************************************************************** ROUND 7 -- Kenneth Bloom has been DEFEATED -- transferring all votes. CANDIDATE THIS ROUND TOTAL STATUS ----------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------------------- Kelsey Cassady +21.39093 193.74737 CONTINUING Leticia Miller +14.91094 184.36413 CONTINUING Rajinder Sandhu +20.19054 148.49356 DEFEATED -- 7th round Kenneth Bloom -94.57942 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 6th round Jared Vagy 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 5th round Ariadna Ramirez 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 4th round Wesley Ryan 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 3rd round Xavjeir GdFaith 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 2nd round Mee Vang 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 1st round Benjamin Bidwell 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 1st round Chris Goren 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Tony Yu 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED James Ackerman 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Caliph Assagai 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Dyanna Quizon 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Juan Carlos Sanchez 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED EXHAUSTED PILE: +38.08701 151.00567 TOTALS: 0.00000 677.61073 -- Rajinder Sandhu is declared DEFEATED because s/he has the lowest number of votes. ******************************************************************************** ROUND 8 -- Rajinder Sandhu has been DEFEATED -- transferring all votes. CANDIDATE THIS ROUND TOTAL STATUS ----------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------------------- Leticia Miller +53.42307 237.78720 ELECTED -- 8th round Kelsey Cassady +21.68783 215.43520 DEFEATED -- 8th round Rajinder Sandhu -148.49356 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 7th round Kenneth Bloom 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 6th round Jared Vagy 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 5th round Ariadna Ramirez 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 4th round Wesley Ryan 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 3rd round Xavjeir GdFaith 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 2nd round Mee Vang 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 1st round Benjamin Bidwell 0.00000 0.00000 DEFEATED -- 1st round Chris Goren 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Tony Yu 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED James Ackerman 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Caliph Assagai 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Dyanna Quizon 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED Juan Carlos Sanchez 0.00000 0.00000 EXCLUDED EXHAUSTED PILE: +73.38266 224.38833 TOTALS: 0.00000 677.61073 -- Leticia Miller has been ELECTED because s/he has a majority of the remaining votes. -- Kelsey Cassady is declared DEFEATED, because all of the seats have been filled. ******************************************************************************** ELECTION COUNT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED Tuesday, June 1, 2004 7:43 PM ChoicePlus Pro -- Version 2.1 (c) 1993-2001 Voting Solutions -- All Rights Reserved