Tools

Quadratic voting tools for understanding voice credits

A useful voting tool makes the mechanism legible before a group relies on it. Nicolas tools show how finite voice credits and squared costs shape the signal.

Why tools matter

Quadratic voting becomes intuitive once people see that doubling intensity quadruples cost, and interactive tools make that tradeoff visible before participants enter a live decision.

Nicolas tools are educational and product-aligned. They use voice credits, signed vote intensity, and quadratic costs rather than pretending the mechanism is a simple poll.

What to calculate

The most important calculation is the spend of a vote vector, which is the sum of squared intensities across alternatives.

A calculator can show whether a participant is inside budget, how much budget remains, and why splitting intensity across independent voters is cheaper than concentrating it in one bundle.

FAQ

Is the calculator the same as running a decision?

No. The calculator explains the cost rule. Running a Nicolas decision also involves participants, alternatives, delegation, aggregate support, and outcome probabilities.

What formula does the calculator use?

It computes the sum of squared vote intensities and compares that spend with the available voice budget.

Can votes be negative?

Yes. Nicolas supports support and opposition. Cost depends on magnitude, so negative and positive intensities with the same absolute value cost the same.