Standard ideas about what voting is, how it operates, and where it comes from are a set of widely held assumptions that are rarely challenged. These assumptions are often present in the foundations of political, democracy, and participation projects.  

By researching the evolution of voting from animal herd behaviors, through ancient history, and into the present day, I can offer a different description of what is going on when this protocol of counting is used.  

If you’re trying to answer questions like: How are people influenced in their voting? What are the optimal features of a fair collective decision system? What voting system is appropriate for what kinds of questions, then this conversation will help you start from the beginning.  

• Ed Maklouf: The Majority Myth