[EM] Single Winner Methods Pros and Cons

DEMOREP1 at aol.com DEMOREP1 at aol.com
Tue Mar 26 21:01:23 PST 1996


[posted earlier on ER list]

I rank single winner methods, as follows--

1. Condorcet (with a disapproval vote)- with multiple same choice votes known
as Multiple Same Choices (MSC)
Pro- Makes head to head comparisons
Con- Explaining possibility  of circular ties with tie breaker to voters,
some candidate/voter strategy regarding second choice votes if 3 candidates
especially, winner may be by a minority only

2. Approval Voting (AV)
Pro- Very simple to vote (noting that the range of approved candidates may be
rather narrow), winner has most approval of voters
Con- A losing candidate might be a Condorcet unique winner, winner may be by
a minority only (due to probable voting for a limited number of candidates-
i.e. ballot truncation) 

3. Majority Preference Voting (MPV) also known as Instant Run-Off (IRO)
Pro- Simply produces a majority relative winner (and an absolute majority
winner if enough voters make enough rankings), 
Con- Winner might lose to one or more losing candidates head to head

4. Plurality
Pro- Very simple to vote
Con-Winner is by a minority in most cases. Winner might lose to one or more
losing candidates head to head 

Are there any other single winner methods ?



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