This dataset contains the original final vote tally from 2013 Cambridge City Council election. The City Council comprises nine members and is the Cambridge's lawmaking body.

Proportional Representation (PR) is the method by which voters in Cambridge elect members of the City Council and School Committee. In a PR election you may vote for as many of the candidates listed on the ballot as you wish, but you must rank the candidates in order of preference. This ensures minority representation with majority control.

The vote count begins with the sorting of ballots by the first preference shown on each valid ballot. That is the NUMBER 1 vote on each ballot. This is generally known as the "First Count". Any candidates who reach the necessary quota with Number 1 votes are declared elected. During the 2013 City Council Election, the quota was 1,775 votes. Any extra ballots they receive beyond the quota are redistributed to the candidates marked next in preference (the number 2 preference) on those excess ballots. The count continues with the elimination of those candidates receiving fewer than fifty votes in the first count. Their ballots are redistributed to the other candidates according to the next preference marked. After each distribution, the candidate now having the lowest number of votes is eliminated and his/her ballots redistributed to the next indicated preference (number 2,3,4 etc.) As candidates reach the quota through the addition of redistributed ballots to their totals, they are declared elected and no further ballots are transferred to them. This process continues until all candidates have been eliminated except the nine winners for City Council.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.cambridgema.gov/election/programsandservices/cambridgemunicipalelections

Voter turnout for Municipal, State and Federal Elections in Cambridge from 1999 to the present. Data is reported by ward and precinct. More information about election districts is available here: https://www.cambridgema.gov/GIS/mapgallery/electionmaps

Cambridge results from the November 8, 2016, election.

This year, Massachusetts will be offering registered voters the chance to cast their ballots prior to Election Day, November 8th, 2016. Early voting will be available at five (5) locations in the City of Cambridge. This alternate voting option will be available from October 24th to November 4th, for all registered voters of the City of Cambridge. For more information including Early Voting by mail, please visit the Cambridge Election Commission, 51 Inman Street, call (617)349-4361 or visit our website at www.cambridgema.gov/election

Cambridge election results from the March 1, 2016, Presidential Primary. This dataset contains presidential preference and state committee results for the Democratic, Republican, Green-Rainbow, and United Independent party races. It also contains ward committee results for the Democratic and Republican parties. This dataset is not official; for official results, visit the Cambridge Election Commission website at https://www.cambridgema.gov/election.

This dataset contains all of the ideas (projects) proposed by community members about how they think the City should spend a given year’s Participatory Budgeting funds. Each summer, community members submit ideas. Each fall, volunteer Budget Delegates research the ideas, evaluating each one based on feasibility, need, and impact. The Delegates ultimately develop about 20 final projects for the public to vote on in December of each year.

To learn more, please visit http://pb.cambridgema.gov/

The dataset contains vote results for all City Council agenda items in which a roll call vote was taken, starting in January of 2016 and ending in December of 2017.

The Cambridge City Council uses two different voting methods: voice votes and roll call votes. During a voice vote, all those in favor of a motion verbally vote “yes” simultaneously, and then all those opposed vote “no” simultaneously. During a roll call vote, each Councilor votes “yes” or “no” in turn. Voice votes are more common and are not recorded in this dataset. The Council tends to rely on roll call votes for City Manager’s agenda items related to fiscal and budgetary topics (e.g., how much money to allocate to a department or program). Please read the limitations section of this metadata form to avoid misinterpretations of the data.

To learn more about Council meeting operations, please refer to the Rules of the City Council: http://www.cambridgema.gov/~/media/Files/citycouncil/20162017rulesofthecitycouncil.ashx

To learn more about the parliamentary voting procedures generally, please refer to Robert’s Rules of Order:
http://www.rulesonline.com/rror-08.htm