Summing the 1st plus second place votes in the 2 examples-- Example 1 A 9 B 7 C 8 24 Second example. 3 AC 2 A [B=C] 4 BA 3 CB If the [B=C] votes are deemed to be half votes, then there is-- A 9 B 7 + (2 x 1/2) = 8 C 6 + (2 x 1/2) = 7 24 A should win both examples since A makes the highest majority of voters happy (or somewhat happy).