[EM] Conditional YES votes

[DEMOREP1 at aol.com]

Simple Approval Voting has the rather major defect of having a later vote 
cancel out an earlier vote.

Real rank order
60 ABC
39 B
1   C
100

B wins (99 votes) using simple AV even though A has a first choice majority.

YES votes could be made conditional.

If an early YES choice does not get a YES majority, only then would a later 
conditional YES choice be counted.

The below is a simple example what can happen (and is happening) in the 
current plurality partisan primaries in the U.S.A.

   YES     NO

40 AB    CD
11 BA    DC

8   CD    AB
41 DC    BA

100

52 B > 48 A

Majority Party X having A and B defeats minority Party Y having C and D.
With plurality primaries, A and D are nominated (who can be extremists within 
their respective parties).

However B has both a YES majority and would beat A with minority support.

With advance polls, choice A may try to get some of his/her AB YES voters to 
vote NO on B (to prevent a B YES majority).

Some of the CDAB and/or DCBA voters may wish to make conditional YES votes 
for A or B if C or D fail to get YES majorities.

Thus - a more complex ballot.
Ballot Example-

A    4  NO
B    3  Cond. YES
C    2  Cond. YES
D    1  YES

Of course, some voters may want unconditional YES votes (especially in public 
office elections).

The above is a modification of the Bucklin method.