Method of Equal Shares

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The Method of Equal Shares^[1][2][3][4] is a proportional method of counting ballots that applies to participatory budgeting,^[2] to committee elections,^[3] and to simultaneous public decisions.^[4][5] It can be used when the voters vote via approval ballots, ranked ballots or cardinal ballots. It works by dividing the available budget into equal parts that are assigned to each voter. The method is only allowed to use the budget share of a voter to implement projects that the voter voted for. It then repeatedly finds projects that can be afforded using the budget shares of the supporting voters. In contexts other than participatory budgeting, the method works by equally dividing an abstract budget of "voting power".^[1]

The Method of Equal Shares is being used in a participatory budgeting program in the Polish city of Wieliczka in 2023.^[6] The program, known as Green Million (Zielony Milion), will distribute 1 million złoty to ecological projects proposed by residents of the city. It will also be used in a participatory budgeting program in the Swiss city of Aarau in 2023 (Stadtidee).^[7]