Reverse Bucklin tiebreaker

[Michael McPhail]

Please remove me from the mailing list.  Thank you.

----Original Message Follows----
From: DEMOREP1 at aol.com
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 16:58:00 EDT
To: election-methods-list at eskimo.com
Subject: RE: Reverse Bucklin tiebreaker
Reply-To: election-methods-list at eskimo.com

Supplement 2

Back to election math course 1 or 101 (for folks who went to college) --

51 A Z
49 Z A 

There is both a first choice majority for A and a Reverse Bucklin 
majority
against Z.

The majority splits (as it often does)--

26 A B Z
25 B A Z
49 Z

or a more drastic

49 A B Z
 2  B A Z
49 Z

The Reverse Bucklin majority against Z continues.  Some of the 49 Z 
voters may
or may not be sincere in wanting A or B to win.  It is irrelevant 
whether or
not they are sincere.  Arrow's Principle regarding 3 or more choices
intervenes.

Conclusion (again) -- most if not all of the criterion, principles, etc. 
are
irrelevant in picking a single winner.  Majority rule is THE criterion,
principle, etc. in picking a single winner.  A majority both elects one 
and
defeats each of the losers.

Truncated Votes

If a voter votes a truncated vote (voting for fewer than the number of
choices), then for purposes of Reverse Bucklin the truncated choices are 
all
last choice votes.

Example--
100 voters
17 A > B > C 
17 B > C > A 
17 C > A > B 
25 Y > Z  
24 Z > Y 

The votes would be treated as

17 A > B     > C  > blank > (Y=Z)
17 B > C      > A > blank > (Y=Z)
17 C > A      > B > blank > (Y=Z)
25 Y > Z > blank > blank > (A=B=C)  
24 Z > Y > blank > blank > (A=B=C)

Both Y and Z have a truncated Reverse Bucklin majority vote against 
them. 

Result- More voters would probably make more relative choices.
Some of the 49 Y and Z first choice voters might want to vote a third 
choice
for the lesser evil among A, B, C.

Computer folks-- Please crank up your programs for Reverse Bucklin.  It 
is a
matter of major regret that Mr. Condorcet and Mr. Bucklin are not around 
to be
praised for their major works. 




______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com