via Harvard SEAS
Algorithm ensures fairer selection of citizens’ assemblies
Democracy in ancient Athens looked quite different from democracies today. Instead of elections, most offices — including those in the legislature, governing councils, and magistrates — were filled by citizen volunteers, selected by random lottery. These citizens’ assemblies drafted, debated, and passed laws; made major foreign policy decisions; and controlled military budgets.
Today, citizens’ assemblies are making a comeback. In 2019 and 2020, citizens’ assemblies in France and the UK convened to draft measures to address climate change. Citizens’ assemblies in Ireland have led to changes to the Irish constitution which legalized abortion and same-sex marriage.
One of the biggest challenges in organizing these assemblies — both in ancient times and today — is deciding who should serve. The assembly needs to be representative of the population as a whole. But selection should be random — ideally, with all volunteers having an equal chance of being chosen.
To balance those two goals, the ancient Athenians used a rudimentary machine called a kleroterion, which randomly selected panels of volunteers from different tribes. Now, a team of computer scientists has devised a 21st century solution.
Now, a team of computer scientists from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and Carnegie Mellon University, in collaboration with a practitioner from the Sortition Foundation, have designed an assembly selection process that satisfies representation and fairness simultaneously.
This paper was published in Nature.
“Ideally, a citizens’ assembly acts as a microcosm of society,” said Ariel Procaccia, Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science at SEAS and co-author of the study. “Whether this goal is realized in practice, however, depends on exactly how assembly members are chosen.”
Original Article: Can AI make democracy fairer?
More from: Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences | Carnegie Mellon University
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Fairer democracy
- Veterans stepping up to serve our democracy
Poll workers power elections. This is true across the country and here in Nevada. Every election cycle, it is local citizens stepping forward to serve their communities that enable Nevadans to vote ...
- Social media companies are bad for democracy
YouTube approved dozens of ads promoting voter suppression and false information ahead of India's election this month. This should be a lesson for ...
- Democracy’s foot-soldiers
CHHATTISGARH : The effective training of the poll workforce becomes paramount, as they bear the responsibility of ensuring the conduct of free, fair, and smooth electoral processes.In the heart of ...
- 'Illegal arrest' constitutes unprecedented assault on tenets of democracy: Kejriwal to SC
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday told the Supreme Court that his "illegal arrest" in a money-laundering case stemming from the alleged excise policy scam constitutes an unprecedented ...
- Speaker at UNK: Democracy is under attack
Simi is a foremost U.S. expert and an author on white supremacists and groups such as the Neo-Nazis, Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys. He spoke at the University of Nebraska at Kearney Tuesday evening.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Fairer democracy
[google_news title=”” keyword=”fairer democracy” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Citizens’ assemblies
- Victoria Rubadiri quits Citizen TV
Rubadiri joined Citizen TV from the Nation Media Group in 2018 ... This year, senior reporters Chemutai Goin and and Hassan MUgambi also left to work with the National Assembly Speaker Moses ...
- Citizens of Bengaluru, why are you so indifferent to exercise your right to vote?
Lok Sabha constituencies that went to polls on April 26 recorded around 69.56 per cent polling, while nearly half of Bengaluru voters, especially the young decided to stay away ...
- Citizens' service vital in Virginia
The Virginia oath of office states one will “faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties incumbent upon,” suggesting one’s loyalty, integrity and ethical conduct. Moral courage is also ...
- Arunachal Pradesh: 'I Bow To The Citizens...', CM Pema Khandu Lauds 77.70 Percent Voter Turnout In Lok Sabha And Assembly Polls
Praising the citizens over the high voter turnout in the Lok Sabha elections and Assembly polls, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu praised citizens while hailing the polling personnel and ...
- Aird rips Petersburg's casino pick, blasts council for choosing self-service over serving citizens
Petersburg's state senator claims City Council's decision to go with former collaborator is an example of its 'ongoing struggle' to govern in its citizens' best interests ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Citizens’ assemblies
[google_news title=”” keyword=”citizens’ assemblies” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]