Referendum items - 410 / 510 handling of these

["David RR Webber \(XML\)" <david@drrw.info>]

I'm just reviewing our V5 schemas - and want to make sure we can handle referendum items and yes/no approval choices on the ballot.

 

I assume we can - but the mechanics of this are not totally clear.

 

In the 410 we have the ReferendumOptionIdentifier, and the ChoiceType - so these can be used to setup a referendum item and denote the ChoiceType of Yes/No.

 

Next in the 510 we need to total the "yes" vis the "no" votes vis the invalid votes.  This is less clear. 

 

Looks like you have to put the ReferendumOptionIdentifier in twice (or more if not just yes/no) once for each option - e.g. Yes/No/Abstain etc.

 

This seems less than ideal.  Would be better to be able to denote on the ValidVotes an attribute of the choiceValue and have that as a repeatable item - so I can do:

 

<Selection>

 <ReferendumOptionIdentifier Id="0001">Make chocolate tax exempt</ReferendumOptionIdentifier>

 <ValidVotes choiceValue="Yes">10731</ValidVotes>

 <ValidVotes choiceValue="No">3670</ValidVotes>

</Selection>

 

Otherwise the handling and reporting in 520 of related items is non-trivial.

 

What have people done in v3/v4 for referendum items?

 

Thanks, DW

"The way to be is to do" - Confucius (551-472 B.C.)