[EM] Re: Does MAM use the Copeland method?

[Steve Eppley]

Hi,
Ted S wrote:
> Paul K wrote:
>> I merely observe from the original ballots that 
>> 5 of 9 voters prefer C over A. So those are the ones 
>> who will be unhappy if A is elected.
> 
> But how unhappy will they be?  Only 3 of those voters 
> strongly disapproved A.

It's a leap to assume that ranking a candidate last 
implies disapproval.  Or strong dispreference.  Neither
can be gleaned from an order of preference. 

(I'll go further and say sincere approval/disapproval 
has no meaning in single-winner elections.  I see a 
meaning if the office being filled can remain vacant; 
in that case, sincere disapproval would mean the same 
as a preference for leaving the office vacant.  But
that's not a single-winner election.)

--Steve