Combined approval voting

[4][5][6] Ballots contain a list of candidates, with three options next to each: "approve"/"disapprove"/"abstain", "for"/"against"/"neutral", or similar.

[2] Voters express their opinion of each candidate, and the votes are summed, with support = +1 and opposition = −1.

It is also possible to use ballots with two options, "approve"/"disapprove" and treat blanks as abstentions.

[citation needed] Unlike approval voting, in which non-approval could mean either disapproval or indifference, CAV allows explicit expression of disapproval, which is hoped to increase turnout, and reduce spoiled/blank ballots and insincere votes for unviable candidates.

[9] While a (-1, 0, +1) scale is mathematically identical to a (0, 1, 2) scale, there are psychological differences between the two, and the introduction of negative ratings (combined with the change in scoring blanks as middle grades rather than lowest grades) changes the scores that candidates receive in each system.