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The Pirate Party looks set for a successful outing in the coming weekend's Icelandic elections.
A poll by local newspaper Morgunblaðið and the Icelandic Social Science Research Institute of the University of Iceland reports support for the Pirate Party is running at about 22.6 per cent, a point-and-a-half ahead of the ruling Independence Party and four points clear of the Left-Greens. That's impressive support, although the party's support has fallen a couple of points since March 2015.
Iceland uses s proportional representation system so the party's current level of support will likely translate into about 15 seats in the 63-member Althingi.
That won't be not enough for Píratar, the party's Icelandic name, to take government. It's also ruled out a coalition with the Independence Party.
But earlier this year Independence split and the recently-formed splinter group Viðreisn (tr. "Regeneration") is polling at 8.8 per cent and has ruled out joining a government with any of the current coalition parties. If the Pirates can align with Viðreisn and other like-minded parties it may therefore become part of a governing coalition and win some ministries.
Four years for a party founded by geeks to take over the government is not bad.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday October 27 2016, @11:41PM
I don't know what Florida is doing for election this year, but I do remember some hanging chad. Apparently, an extremely poor method of voting helped to lead to a very narrow race, and both parties wanted to take advantage of any doubt. The R candidate won that election because he did and end run on the Supreme Court, as I recall.
As for transparency - well - there is no paper trail. Whoever manages to tamper with one state or more, without getting caught in the act, wins. No paper trail. No accountability, ultimately. All that can be said for certain, in the event of a recount situation, is that x number of votes were cast from this machine, and the machine recorded y as R votes, and z as D votes, with aa number of third party votes. That is ALL the "transparency" possible without a physical paper trail of ballots cast.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 28 2016, @12:55AM
an extremely poor method of voting helped to lead to a very narrow race [in Florida]
A major element that you didn't mention was the confusing "butterfly ballot".
The Blues -could- have objected to that and a bunch of lawyers whom I have heard on the subject say the Blues would have prevailed in court.
The dumb bastards didn't bother to.
The R candidate won that election because he did and end run on the Supreme Court
"The President Select".
It was an unconstitutional coup d'etat.
The Constitution specifies how the process is supposed to go and that isn't any part of it.
...and I especially like how Gore conceded on election night then took back his concession.
Caspar Milquetoast.
Even better than that was when he pissed and moaned about Nader "stealing" his votes--when Gore didn't even carry his own state of Tennessee.
without a physical paper trail
Yup. That sucks.
This guy is a fanatic on the subject: Brad Friedman [google.com]
...and you're both correct.
hanging chad
Yup. Even the hole-punching gadgets are absolutely unnecessary.
Canada gives folks a paper ballot and a marker.
They count them by hand and it all Just Works(tm).
We disagree so often that it's refreshing when we totally agree.
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Friday October 28 2016, @04:48AM
I have a weird feeling he may have had a partial change of heart over the last couple of months. Unlike some of the real no-hopers (Kyuubey, you still here, ya weaselly little bastid?) he never struck me as completely unreasonable. Whatever's going on I hope it continues.
*stands by waiting for the basket of deplorables to swoop in and make this all about them*
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 28 2016, @07:36AM
I don't think that's it.
We just happened to hit a subject where the logic is blindingly obvious.
When you go to a sporting event, you want the match to show who is the better contestant on that day--starting with the old level playing field.
...and elections are more important than any ball game.
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]