deborda.org

On 7.10.2009, the de Borda Institute hosted an open public meeting in Dublin, to see if the Dail could elect a power-sharing cabinet, with TDs choosing not only those who would serve in government, but also the particular department in which each successful Minister would serve.  The original invitation is here.

Participants were split into various groups, one each to represent FF, FG, Labour, Independents, GP and SF.  And each group was given a fixed number of ballot papers, in proportion to current party strengths in the Dail: 20, 14, 5, 2, 2 and 1 respectively, a total of 44 ballots.  The matrix vote is based on QBS and the MBC.  So it was to everyone's advantage to submit a full ballot - i.e., to cast all their preferences - and to do so on a cross-party basis.  Thus, in the simulation, groups planned strategies amongst themselves, and then negotiated deals with others. 

The outcome was as follows: FF 6, FG 5, Lab 2, Ind 0, GP 1, SF 1 - a proportional, all-party, power-sharing coalition cabinet, a GNU.  In other words, the matrix vote is indeed a robust voting procedure, and it all works without any resort to party labels.  A full report along with the results are here.