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Re:DHS plans urgently needed to address identified challenge... by roganartu on Thursday February 06, 2020 @06:37PM (#22261644)
What you describe is not that different from Australia's preferential system afaict, aside from people at one district potentially having different ballots.

Australian ballots are not always simple, and you vote for your local representative so each district has a different one. Often you will have multiple ballots to complete, and some have the choice between above or below the line voting (where above you select some preferences and below you select all preferences, where all may be over 100 boxes).

Parties often hand out small leaflets outside the voting locations with instructions for above the line voting, which is typically a list of around 6 preferences in order.

Despite this, voting in Australia is done with paper, and we have live coverage with real-time counts on election night. Paper works quite well, computers really aren't necessary.

Re:DHS plans urgently needed to address identified challenge... by mzs on Thursday February 06, 2020 @07:01PM (#22261791)
Australia is always a curveball! I've wondered how a precinct counts those ballots, especially if some people vote below the line. I hope someone with experience comments here.
Re:DHS plans urgently needed to address identified challenge... by roganartu on Thursday February 06, 2020 @09:11PM (#22262617)
You don't have to wonder, the counting process is well documented! :)

https://www.aec.gov.au/voting/counting/

Re:DHS plans urgently needed to address identified challenge... by mzs on Friday February 07, 2020 @12:10PM (#22268161)
Thanks, I'm still confused but it seems in essence before counting they make an educated guess of the two likely winners and first count with that in mind and only do a more complicated tally if it ends-up mathematically possible for one of the others to still come-out on top.