DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 1

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,629.0  (14.6%)  Elected
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,424.0  (13.5%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,289.0  (12.7%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,283.0  (12.7%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,001.0  (11.1%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  1,908.0  (10.6%)   
Harshbarger, Michael  Chart color  1,568.0  (8.7%)   
Kenney, Elizabeth Tad  Chart color  753.0  (4.2%)   
Harding, Donald  Chart color  712.0  (4.0%)   
Brazo, Melody L.  Chart color  475.0  (2.6%)   
Thompson, Alvin E.  Chart color  389.0  (2.2%)   
Patterson, Jamisean F.  Chart color  284.0  (1.6%)   
Burke, Shawn M.  Chart color  219.0  (1.2%)   
Write-In 1  Chart color  26.0  (0.1%)   
Write-In 2  Chart color  1.0  (0.0%)   
Pie chart

In the first round, the first choices on each ballot are tallied.
Turkel, Alice L. has enough votes to guarantee victory (14.3%) and is declared a winner.To ensure that everyone's vote counts equally, votes that exceed that threshold are counted toward their next highest ranking (this is actually done by counting a fraction of ballots cast for the winning candidate).

Go to the next round.
















      

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 2

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,565.9  (14.3%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,438.9  (13.6%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,290.3  (12.8%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,286.1  (12.7%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,016.9  (11.2%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  1,921.6  (10.7%)   
Harshbarger, Michael  Chart color  1,572.5  (8.8%)   
Kenney, Elizabeth Tad  Chart color  756.4  (4.2%)   
Harding, Donald  Chart color  713.1  (4.0%)   
Brazo, Melody L.  Chart color  478.2  (2.7%)   
Thompson, Alvin E.  Chart color  390.2  (2.2%)   
Patterson, Jamisean F.  Chart color  284.6  (1.6%)   
Burke, Shawn M.  Chart color  219.3  (1.2%)   
Write-In 1  Chart color  26.0  (0.1%)   
Write-In 2  Chart color  1.0  (0.0%)  Defeated
Pie chart

The last-place candidate (Write-In 2) is eliminated. Ballots for that candidate are counted toward their next highest ranking.

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 3

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,565.9  (14.3%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,438.9  (13.6%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,290.3  (12.8%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,286.1  (12.7%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,016.9  (11.2%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  1,921.6  (10.7%)   
Harshbarger, Michael  Chart color  1,572.5  (8.8%)   
Kenney, Elizabeth Tad  Chart color  756.4  (4.2%)   
Harding, Donald  Chart color  713.1  (4.0%)   
Brazo, Melody L.  Chart color  478.2  (2.7%)   
Thompson, Alvin E.  Chart color  390.2  (2.2%)   
Patterson, Jamisean F.  Chart color  284.6  (1.6%)   
Burke, Shawn M.  Chart color  219.3  (1.2%)   
Write-In 1  Chart color  27.0  (0.2%)  Defeated
Pie chart

The last-place candidate (Write-In 1) is eliminated. Ballots for that candidate are counted toward their next highest ranking.

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 4

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,566.9  (14.3%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,440.9  (13.6%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,294.3  (12.8%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,287.1  (12.7%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,017.9  (11.2%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  1,923.7  (10.7%)   
Harshbarger, Michael  Chart color  1,576.5  (8.8%)   
Kenney, Elizabeth Tad  Chart color  757.4  (4.2%)   
Harding, Donald  Chart color  714.1  (4.0%)   
Brazo, Melody L.  Chart color  479.2  (2.7%)   
Thompson, Alvin E.  Chart color  393.2  (2.2%)   
Patterson, Jamisean F.  Chart color  285.6  (1.6%)   
Burke, Shawn M.  Chart color  219.3  (1.2%)  Defeated
None of these  Chart color  5.0  (0.0%)   
Pie chart

The last-place candidate (Burke, Shawn M.) is eliminated. Ballots for that candidate are counted toward their next highest ranking.

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 5

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,567.9  (14.3%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,447.0  (13.7%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,330.3  (13.0%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,327.1  (13.0%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,025.9  (11.3%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  1,931.7  (10.8%)   
Harshbarger, Michael  Chart color  1,601.5  (8.9%)   
Kenney, Elizabeth Tad  Chart color  764.4  (4.3%)   
Harding, Donald  Chart color  730.1  (4.1%)   
Brazo, Melody L.  Chart color  489.2  (2.7%)   
Thompson, Alvin E.  Chart color  404.2  (2.3%)   
Patterson, Jamisean F.  Chart color  294.6  (1.6%)  Defeated
None of these  Chart color  47.0  (0.3%)   
Pie chart

The last-place candidate (Patterson, Jamisean F.) is eliminated. Ballots for that candidate are counted toward their next highest ranking.

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 6

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,570.0  (14.4%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,470.0  (13.8%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,367.3  (13.2%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,368.2  (13.3%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,076.1  (11.6%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  1,947.7  (10.9%)   
Harshbarger, Michael  Chart color  1,634.6  (9.1%)   
Kenney, Elizabeth Tad  Chart color  785.4  (4.4%)   
Harding, Donald  Chart color  746.2  (4.2%)   
Brazo, Melody L.  Chart color  493.3  (2.8%)   
Thompson, Alvin E.  Chart color  413.2  (2.3%)  Defeated
None of these  Chart color  89.0  (0.5%)   
Pie chart

The last-place candidate (Thompson, Alvin E.) is eliminated. Ballots for that candidate are counted toward their next highest ranking.

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 7

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,579.2  (14.5%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,560.3  (14.4%)  Elected
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,415.3  (13.6%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,408.3  (13.5%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,104.4  (11.8%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  1,979.8  (11.1%)   
Harshbarger, Michael  Chart color  1,678.6  (9.4%)   
Kenney, Elizabeth Tad  Chart color  791.6  (4.4%)   
Harding, Donald  Chart color  773.2  (4.3%)   
Brazo, Melody L.  Chart color  500.4  (2.8%)   
None of these  Chart color  170.0  (1.0%)   
Pie chart

Simmons, Denise has enough votes to guarantee victory (14.3%) and is declared a winner.To ensure that everyone's vote counts equally, votes that exceed that threshold are counted toward their next highest ranking (this is actually done by counting a fraction of ballots cast for the winning candidate).

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 8

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,579.2  (14.5%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,541.6  (14.3%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,416.9  (13.6%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,410.5  (13.5%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,109.7  (11.9%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  1,979.8  (11.1%)   
Harshbarger, Michael  Chart color  1,681.5  (9.5%)   
Kenney, Elizabeth Tad  Chart color  792.8  (4.5%)   
Harding, Donald  Chart color  778.5  (4.4%)   
Brazo, Melody L.  Chart color  500.7  (2.8%)  Defeated
None of these  Chart color  170.0  (1.0%)   
Pie chart

The last-place candidate (Brazo, Melody L.) is eliminated. Ballots for that candidate are counted toward their next highest ranking.

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 9

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,589.7  (14.6%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,563.6  (14.4%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,437.0  (13.7%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,423.9  (13.6%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,247.3  (12.7%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  2,089.6  (11.8%)   
Harshbarger, Michael  Chart color  1,714.8  (9.7%)   
Kenney, Elizabeth Tad  Chart color  898.6  (5.1%)   
Harding, Donald  Chart color  795.5  (4.5%)  Defeated
None of these  Chart color  201.0  (1.1%)   
Pie chart

The last-place candidate (Harding, Donald) is eliminated. Ballots for that candidate are counted toward their next highest ranking.

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 10

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,597.1  (14.7%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,662.4  (15.1%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,537.4  (14.4%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,585.0  (14.7%)  Elected
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,318.3  (13.1%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  2,162.8  (12.3%)   
Harshbarger, Michael  Chart color  1,835.1  (10.4%)   
Kenney, Elizabeth Tad  Chart color  935.1  (5.3%)   
None of these  Chart color  328.0  (1.9%)   
Pie chart

Grassi, Joseph G. has enough votes to guarantee victory (14.3%) and is declared a winner.To ensure that everyone's vote counts equally, votes that exceed that threshold are counted toward their next highest ranking (this is actually done by counting a fraction of ballots cast for the winning candidate).

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 11

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,597.1  (14.7%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,662.4  (15.1%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,537.4  (14.4%)  Elected
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,519.0  (14.3%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,342.8  (13.3%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  2,171.3  (12.3%)   
Harshbarger, Michael  Chart color  1,863.8  (10.6%)   
Kenney, Elizabeth Tad  Chart color  939.3  (5.3%)   
None of these  Chart color  328.0  (1.9%)   
Pie chart

Fantini, Alfred B. has enough votes to guarantee victory (14.3%) and is declared a winner.To ensure that everyone's vote counts equally, votes that exceed that threshold are counted toward their next highest ranking (this is actually done by counting a fraction of ballots cast for the winning candidate).

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 12

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,597.1  (14.7%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,662.4  (15.1%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,519.0  (14.3%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,519.0  (14.3%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,345.7  (13.3%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  2,174.5  (12.3%)   
Harshbarger, Michael  Chart color  1,873.8  (10.6%)   
Kenney, Elizabeth Tad  Chart color  941.6  (5.3%)  Defeated
None of these  Chart color  328.0  (1.9%)   
Pie chart

The last-place candidate (Kenney, Elizabeth Tad) is eliminated. Ballots for that candidate are counted toward their next highest ranking.

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 13

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,646.0  (15.1%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,695.1  (15.4%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,540.0  (14.5%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,527.9  (14.4%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,664.9  (15.2%)  Elected
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  2,478.3  (14.2%)   
Harshbarger, Michael  Chart color  1,960.9  (11.2%)   
None of these  Chart color  448.0  (2.6%)   
Pie chart

Segat, Susana M. has enough votes to guarantee victory (14.3%) and is declared a winner.To ensure that everyone's vote counts equally, votes that exceed that threshold are counted toward their next highest ranking (this is actually done by counting a fraction of ballots cast for the winning candidate).

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 14

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,646.0  (15.1%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,695.1  (15.4%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,540.0  (14.5%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,527.9  (14.4%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,501.9  (14.3%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  2,615.2  (14.9%)  Elected
Harshbarger, Michael  Chart color  1,987.1  (11.3%)   
None of these  Chart color  448.0  (2.6%)   
Pie chart

Walser, Nancy has enough votes to guarantee victory (14.3%) and is declared a winner.To ensure that everyone's vote counts equally, votes that exceed that threshold are counted toward their next highest ranking (this is actually done by counting a fraction of ballots cast for the winning candidate).

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 15

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,646.0  (15.1%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,695.1  (15.4%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,540.0  (14.5%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,527.9  (14.4%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,501.9  (14.3%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  2,615.2  (14.9%)   
Harshbarger, Michael  Chart color  1,987.1  (11.3%)  Defeated
None of these  Chart color  448.0  (2.6%)   
Pie chart

The last-place candidate (Harshbarger, Michael) is eliminated. Ballots for that candidate are counted toward their next highest ranking.

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 16

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,891.8  (16.9%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,911.3  (17.1%)  Elected
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,903.3  (17.0%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,813.2  (16.5%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,769.3  (16.2%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  2,778.2  (16.3%)   
None of these  Chart color  894.0  (5.2%)   
Pie chart

Simmons, Denise has enough votes to guarantee victory (14.3%) and is declared a winner.To ensure that everyone's vote counts equally, votes that exceed that threshold are counted toward their next highest ranking (this is actually done by counting a fraction of ballots cast for the winning candidate).

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 17

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,891.8  (16.9%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,844.5  (16.7%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,903.3  (17.0%)  Elected
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,835.8  (16.6%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,797.6  (16.4%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  2,794.1  (16.4%)   
None of these  Chart color  894.0  (5.2%)   
Pie chart

Fantini, Alfred B. has enough votes to guarantee victory (14.3%) and is declared a winner.To ensure that everyone's vote counts equally, votes that exceed that threshold are counted toward their next highest ranking (this is actually done by counting a fraction of ballots cast for the winning candidate).

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 18

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,891.8  (16.9%)  Elected
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,844.5  (16.7%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,844.5  (16.7%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,873.3  (16.8%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,809.0  (16.5%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  2,804.0  (16.4%)   
None of these  Chart color  894.0  (5.2%)   
Pie chart

Turkel, Alice L. has enough votes to guarantee victory (14.3%) and is declared a winner.To ensure that everyone's vote counts equally, votes that exceed that threshold are counted toward their next highest ranking (this is actually done by counting a fraction of ballots cast for the winning candidate).

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 19

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,844.5  (16.7%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,844.5  (16.7%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,844.5  (16.7%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,873.3  (16.8%)  Elected
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,839.9  (16.6%)   
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  2,820.3  (16.5%)   
None of these  Chart color  894.0  (5.2%)   
Pie chart

Grassi, Joseph G. has enough votes to guarantee victory (14.3%) and is declared a winner.To ensure that everyone's vote counts equally, votes that exceed that threshold are counted toward their next highest ranking (this is actually done by counting a fraction of ballots cast for the winning candidate).

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 20

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,844.5  (16.7%)   
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,844.5  (16.7%)   
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,844.5  (16.7%)   
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,844.5  (16.7%)   
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,863.0  (16.8%)  Elected
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  2,826.0  (16.6%)   
None of these  Chart color  894.0  (5.2%)   
Pie chart

Segat, Susana M. has enough votes to guarantee victory (14.3%) and is declared a winner.To ensure that everyone's vote counts equally, votes that exceed that threshold are counted toward their next highest ranking (this is actually done by counting a fraction of ballots cast for the winning candidate).

Go to the next round.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Round 21

Legend
Candidate Votes Status
Turkel, Alice L.  Chart color  2,844.5  (16.7%)  Elected
Simmons, Denise  Chart color  2,844.5  (16.7%)  Elected
Fantini, Alfred B.  Chart color  2,844.5  (16.7%)  Elected
Grassi, Joseph G.  Chart color  2,844.5  (16.7%)  Elected
Segat, Susana M.  Chart color  2,844.5  (16.7%)  Elected
Walser, Nancy  Chart color  2,844.5  (16.7%)  Elected
None of these  Chart color  894.0  (5.2%)   
Pie chart

At this point, the number of remaining candidates equals the number of remaining seats, so the remaining candidates are declared elected.

In the end, 95% of all cast ballots counted toward a winner. This compares to 75.4% if only the first-round votes were used. You should be able to see that the winners have a more equal mandate in the final round than in the first round.

Note that even the "highest first-round votes" method is more democratic than most methods used in US public elections: the "vote for 6" method, which allows the largest block of voters to dominate, and the district method, where choices are restricted to the one or two viable candidates within geographical boundaries drawn by the politicians in office.

Also, view the Ballot Depth info to see how much lower rankings contributed to the tally.
















 

DemoChoice Web Poll: Cambridge, MA 1999 School Committee Election

6 candidates will be elected with 17,961 ballots cast.


Ballot Depth

This shows how much the lower rankings on ballots contributed to the winning candidates.

Rank Fraction of votes for winners
1st    79.0% 
2nd    12.3% 
3rd    5.0% 
4th    2.0% 
5th    0.9% 
6th    0.4% 
7th    0.3% 
Pie chart