[EM] IRV majority vs Ghost Majority of a Bottom Method

[Bart Ingles]

Instant Runoff Voting supporter wrote:
> Dear Bart,
> 
>     When we are using IRV, a majority is fifty percent plus one or more of
> the total voters that voted in the race. And, it is only possible for one
> candidate to have a majority.
>
>     With IRV, the voter is allowed to change his vote in the event his
> candidate becomes last in the count of the first choices. This is an option
> of the voter.
> 
>     A majority in a Bottom Method is merely a Ghost Majority made up from
> the addition of real votes and votes cloned from lower choices. And, more
> than one candidate may have a majority.
>     The voter is not allowed to change his vote, he must stay with the loser.
> 
> Regards, Donald


But Donald, IRV _is_ a Bottom Method.  By attempting to mandate a
majority when none exists, you end up counting detractors as
supporters.  Then your majority-by-fiat will elect someone despised by a
majority.  

Example:

49%  A(10)   B(9)   C(0)
25%  B(10)   C(1)   A(0)    
26%  C(10)   B(9)   A(0)

On a scale of 0..10, candidate B is rated by every voter as being very
near that voter's favorite.  In other words, B is a Top Candidate (and
is almost certainly the Approval winner).  Plurality winner A is another
top candidate, with nearly a majority of first-choice votes.

With IRV, a Bottom Method, candidate C wins with a manufactured
majority, even though B is despised by 74% of the voters (a Bottom
Candidate if there ever was one).  Surely you must agree that a majority
consisting of 26% supporters and 74% detractors is a Ghost Majority, if
that term has any meaning at all.

And you are right, with a Bottom Method such as IRV, the 49% who
supported A are not allowed to change their votes, and must stay with
the loser.

Regards,
Bart