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view/download model file: Voting.nlogo
This model is a simple cellular automaton that simulates voting distribution by having each patch take a "vote" of its eight surrounding neighbors, then perhaps change its own vote according to the outcome.
Click the SETUP button to create arandom distribution of blue and red patches.
The percent-red slider allows you to set the initial percentage of red cells
(approximately).
Click GO to run the simulation.
The 8 neighbors of a cell can have a 4-4 tie, a 5-3 majority, a 6-2 majority, a 7-1 majority, or a 8-0 majority.
The choosers allow you to define the cell's behaviour for each of the possible majorities.
The cell can
1) go with the majority
2) stay with it's last decision
3) change it's last decision
4) vote against the majority
Watch how any setup quickly settles to a static state when voters go for the majority if there is one.
Watch what happens when the voter only switches when there is no majority (i.e. a 4-4 tie)?
How is the result different?
Watch what happens when the voter goes for the majority for small majorities,
but opposes strong majorities.
Ising (a physics model, but the rules are very similar)
The original model is described in Rudy Rucker's "Artificial Life Lab", published in 1993 by Waite Group Press.
It has been modified by Erich Neuwirth, University of Vienna
To refer to this model in academic publications, please use: Wilensky, U. (1998). NetLogo Voting model. http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/models/Voting. Center for Connected Learning and Computer-Based Modeling, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
In other publications, please use: Copyright 1998 Uri Wilensky. All rights reserved. See http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/models/Voting for terms of use.