Cohousing-L Mailing List: Preference voting and Consensus Made Easy is this week

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On Aug 13, 2022, at 7:20 PM, Martie Weatherly <martiew319 [at] gmail.com> 
> wrote:
> 
> Most people think consensus means *everyone* comes together *every time* a
> decision needs to be made about *everything*, big or small.

> In fact, some decisions need what’s called “voting”.

Martie, do you introduce preference voting or ranking in your workshop? We are 
still testing different methods of express and tabulating preferences but it 
has been a good way for people to participate in decisions without having to 
work out a consensus of everyone. But it also isn’t the domination of the 
majority. 

People express their preference for each option sometimes by ranking the 
options from 0-5 or rating each one with points. In rating a member could give 
an equal number of points to one choice or three. It’s a much better that 
forcing people into a yes/no position which is basically a winner-loser 
situation.

We are currently ranking color options for new mailboxes. There are 4 colors 
available: 2 light and 2 dark. The leading preferences at the moment are the 
two darker colors. People can adjust their rating until the survey closes so 
even if they prefer a light color, they have a chance to weigh in on the two 
darker colors.

We are using Google Forms to do weigh the options. I’m also working with Sean 
Davey to set something up with Mosaic — which now has a tagline: Software 
Powering Community.

It is so much easier than hours of discussion when there is no “right” solution 
and no values to sort out that it also allows time to do a second round after 
eliminating the least popular choices. In theory this kind of ranking or rating 
gives everyone their first or second choice. It means the options that everyone 
can live with have a chance, not just the most flashy.

Sharon
—————
Sharon Villines, Washington DC

We don’t agonize, we organize. — Nancy Pelosi