Looking for a Book about PR-STV

[Simbo67]

Hi there,

I remember someone telling me about a book that was published about a famous recount, I think it may have been Laois that gave a wonderful insight into the ins and outs of PR-STV. If anyone knows if this book actually exists or what the title of it is I would be delighted to hear about it. I am in the US at the moment and some people are amazed by our electoral system. I have already directed them to google books versions of Coakley and Gallagher etc but I remember sitting in the RDS for a 24 hour count (Dundrum local elections) and an old hand (now sadly passed) telling me about this book.

Simon

[Twin Towers]

I'm not surprised people in the US are "amazed" by our electoral system when Lisbon shows them that 53% of the voting electorate neither trust, respect nor want 97% of those elected.

[kerrynorth]

Hi there,

I remember someone telling me about a book that was published about a famous recount, I think it may have been Laois that gave a wonderful insight into the ins and outs of PR-STV. If anyone knows if this book actually exists or what the title of it is I would be delighted to hear about it. I am in the US at the moment and some people are amazed by our electoral system. I have already directed them to google books versions of Coakley and Gallagher etc but I remember sitting in the RDS for a 24 hour count (Dundrum local elections) and an old hand (now sadly passed) telling me about this book.

Simon

Google Michael Marsh of TCD he has written extensively on PR-STV. Richard Sinnott is another person. You will find references to books and probably some academic papers.

[Simbo67]

That's great. I am aware of them (in fact I took a couple of classes from all those guys). However, apparently there is another book out there which was written more of a narrative of a great election count rather than as an academic piece...

[apkavanagh]

Hi, the book in question is:
Brennan, Louis (2000), Count, Recount and Petition: Laois County Council - Local Elections 1999, Institute of Public Administration: Dublin. ISBN: 1902448332
A book about the famous Borris in Ossory local elections battle in Co. Laois in 1999, when Joe Bonham FG and the late Larry Kavanagh LAB ended up level on votes on the final count. Bonham won the seat by virtue of having won more first preference votes. A court case followed in which various ballot papers were scrutinied to determine whether the Returning Officer's decisions were the correct ones, and his decisions were upheld. The book goes through all these contested ballots and explains Louis Brennan's decisions on each of them. It's quite fascinating for election-holics!!!

[Simbo67]

Perfect! That is exactly the book I am looking for!

[campbeca]

Michael Gallagher of TCD is moreso the man on this topic. The Politics of Electoral Systems is very in-depth, but the book by Coakley and Gallagher is more accessible

[Simbo67]

Hi there,

I know that but I was really looking for that particular book. It was recommended to me by a an old stalwart tallyman (sadly now deceased) at a 23 hour count. I wanted to read it. I took classes by Marsh et al

[apkavanagh]

I may be biased being from Laois but I think Count and Recount is a great read and gives a good insight into the workings of PRSTV and election counts. The section detailing the decisions on all the disputed ballots in the Borris in Ossory count is a must read. Published back in 2000, the book may be hard to find but it's probably in most libraries (I got it in the library for the PolGeog students in NUIM) and there's probably still a few copies from the IPA or even in Portlaoise; the new Easons there might have it.