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Toward Computing the Margin of Victory in Single Transferable Vote Elections

Author

Listed:
  • Michelle Blom

    (Department of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia 3010)

  • Peter J. Stuckey

    (Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, Australia 3800)

  • Vanessa J. Teague

    (Department of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia 3010)

Abstract

The single transferable vote (STV) is a system of preferential voting for multiseat elections. Each ballot cast by a voter is a (potentially partial) ranking over a set of candidates. No techniques currently exist for computing the margin of victory (MOV) in STV elections. The MOV is the smallest number of ballot manipulations (changes, additions, and deletions) required to bring about a change in the set of elected candidates. Knowing the MOV gives insight into how much time and money should be spent on auditing the election, and whether uncovered mistakes (such as ballot box losses) throw the election result into doubt—requiring a costly repeat election—or can be safely ignored. We present algorithms for computing lower and upper bounds on the MOV in STV elections. In small instances, these algorithms are able to compute exact margins.

Suggested Citation

  • Michelle Blom & Peter J. Stuckey & Vanessa J. Teague, 2019. "Toward Computing the Margin of Victory in Single Transferable Vote Elections," INFORMS Journal on Computing, INFORMS, vol. 31(4), pages 636-653, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orijoc:v:31:y:2019:i:4:p:636-653
    DOI: 10.1287/ijoc.2018.0853
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sarwate Anand D. & Checkoway Stephen & Shacham Hovav, 2013. "Risk-limiting Audits and the Margin of Victory in Nonplurality Elections," Statistics, Politics and Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 4(1), pages 29-64, January.
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