Cambridge uses Proportional Representation (PR) Elections to elect the City Councilors and members of the School Committee and this is why your #1 VOTE is so important...

Election Day

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

A voter may vote for as many candidates as are listed on the ballot in a PR election, but the voter must rank the candidates in order of preference (1, 2, 3, and so on).

Your #1 choice is the most important!

Votes lower down in preference (#2,#3, etc) are only considered after all the #1 votes have been counted.

Without sufficient #1 votes, a candidate will be eliminated from the race.

The initial count of ballots determines the total number of first choice votes for each candidate. The candidates are then ranked in order according to the total of number one (#1) votes each has received.

Quota

In a PR election, a candidate needs to win a certain proportion of the votes to be elected. This proportion is referred to as quota.

Quota is determined by dividing the total number of valid ballots by the number of candidates to be elected plus and adding one to the result.

If 14,000 people vote for School Committee candidates, then quota will be 2,000 because 14,000 /(6+1) = 2,000
During the 2009 Election, the quota was approximately 2135.

Surplus

Candidates who reach quota after the count of first choices are declared elected. Any votes they receive beyond quota are surplus votes.

Surplus votes are transferred to the next continuing candidate marked on the surplus ballots.

Eliminating Candidates

After surplus votes are transferred, the candidate with the least #1 votes is eliminated from the race.

His/her votes are transferred to the continuing candidates marked next in preference on those ballots.

Then candidate with the lowest number of votes are eliminated and that candidate's ballots are transferred to the next continuing candidate marked on each ballot.

Winners

The first 9 City Councillor candidates and 6 School Committee candidates to reach quota win the election.

Mayor

The mayor is elected by the City Council from among its own members and acts as chair both the City Council and School Committee.

Vote

Whomever your chosen candidate, I urge you to register to vote by October 19 and to vote on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. More voter registration information can be obtained at the Election Commission Office at 51 Inman Street. Or online at:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/election/programsandservices/voterregistration.aspx