Método global de asignación de escaños en elecciones de representantes de poblaciones segmentadas por múltiples criterios y su aplicación en la Asamblea Nacional y los Concejos Municipales del Ecuador

Abstract

Apportionment problem's technical approach works traditionally with one only dimension, although many electoral systems have incorporated two or more dimensions in the most disparate and creative ways, which usually lead to results that are far from the population's will. Formal treatment of the multidimensional case is a recent matter which already shows the problem's complexity growth, since the simplicity and clarity of the one-dimensional algorithms do not extend naturally; furthermore, lost properties need to be rethought when taking into consideration additional aspects. A three steps procedure is proposed: the population division into groups with different candidates in proportion to some measures, the global apportionment in proportion to the values of some dimensions, and the group-level internal apportionment in proportion to the values of the same dimensions. The proposed method is based on optimization problems where the error committed in the values of the considered dimensions and measures is minimized. Moreover, the possibility for candidates to present two or more values of the same dimension, like being sponsored by more than one political organization, is included. It's finally presented the application of the proposed apportionment method to the Ecuador's National Assembly and major Municipal Councils elections with encouraging results.