Choose & Rank Voting System

Lets make democratic system more representative with the help of Choose & Rank Voting System

In the wake of challenges before election commission of India, to conduct free and fair elections, I have come up with a solution that can help in making our democratic system more representative.

Idea:

Instead of giving vote to only one candidate, voters should be asked to rate candidates in order of their preference. After voting, election commission should give a score card to each candidate. Winner should be decided with the highest score not highest votes.

Methodology:

Let us assume there are 13 candidates who are contesting an election in a particular area. Let A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M are the candidates.

Traditionally, voters are asked to vote any one of them (Given candidates) but this time voters should be asked to rate them and give them a particular rank.

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,....n, n is the total number of candidates contesting election.( ideally).

Rank / Name

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

None

A

y

B

y

C

y

D

y

E

y

F

y

G

y

H

y

I

y

J

y

K

y

L

y

M

y

NONE

But practically, it become tougher for a voter to rate all the candidates. So for this, pragmatically i would like to propose that voters should be asked to give rank to only top 5 candidates of their choice, in order of their preference.

I would like to elaborate it with the following table.Following table shows the vote of a single voter.

Rank /Name	1	2	3	4	5	None
A
B
C	y
D
E		y
F
G
H			y
I					y
J
K
L				y
M
None of the above

In these tables "y' stands for yes. If a candidate thinks that none of the contestant suits him then she/he need to push only none of the above button only.

Each rank should be given some wtg.

I suggest,

Rank 1 should be given weight w1=1

Rank 2 should be given weight w2=1/2

Rank 3 should be given weight w3=1/3

Rank 4 should be given weight w4=1/4

Rank 5 should be given weight w5=1/5

None of the above should be given some wt= X (say)

Then, let a1,a2,a3, a4, a5 are the number of votes that a candidate got of 1rst, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, choices respectively.

So score of the candidate will be calculated by the following formula:

Score = (w1*a1+w2*a2+w3*a3+w4*a4+w5*a5) - X*N

For me X= 1/Median of total no of contesting candidates.

Here X = 1/7 Because i have assumed total 13 candidates are contesting the election in a particular area.

N is the total number of "none of the above" votes to all candidates.

Finally, the Winner should be the one who has the highest score. In case of tie some mathematical and statistical approach can help.

Further developments in this methodology can be done with the help of mathematicians, statisticians, and other intellectuals.

Benefits

By this approach, Election commission can empower the masses by giving them more choices. Voters are compelled to think about other candidates beyond their cast, sec, and religion. So while comparing candidates they will start assessing them on the basis of their ability and performance. Finally, the impact of cast based and religion based politics can be reduced.

Since vote base of candidates will increase so they will have to take care of interests of larger masses irrespective of their cast, class or religion. Candidates have to take care of those people also who have rated them as their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, choices and this time they can not find who has given them what rank so candidates are compelled to act in more responsible manner towards all.

Because of the complexity and newness of the methodology, it will become tougher for political parties and candidates to make voters think only about them. Role of opinion polls can also be minimized because this time, it will be tougher for them to predict winner more accurately. So it will be tougher for them to influence the voting behaviour of a voter.

This approach will help in minimizing the role of money and muscle power of candidates. complex methodology will help in avoiding malpractices like forced voting and booth capturing.

By giving wtg to none of the above choice, election commission can attract and provide representation to those people also, earlier, who are reluctant in giving their vote to any one. In this way people of India can have more role and participation in democratic system.

Ultimately, more representation will result in more responsibility. So politicians will become more responsible. It will result in positive inclination of youth towards politics and one day we can have good and clean politicians.

In this way, this approach can provide solution to almost all major problems that Election Commission of India is facing today.

Although, critics might raise the issues related to complexity of the process and the implementation part but these issues can be taken care of with the help of NGO's participation, training and mass awareness through different media. The government of India is working towards increasing the literacy rate so it is also a positive point in favour of this approach.

Implementation problem can be taken care of with the help of Electronic Voting Machine, advanced software technologies and system security methods.

Being the world's largest democracy, the time has come to make our democratic system more representative by pioneering such methods. It can be the best gift to the people of India in this decade of Innovation.