[EM] IFPP for more than three candidates?

[Rob LeGrand]

Well, it's a good thing Craig doesn't define his IFPP method for more than
three candidates!

Suppose there's an election among A, B and C:

10:A>B>C
15:B>A>C
23:C>A>B

C wins in IFPP after A and B are eliminated in the first round (quota 16).  But
say universally despised candidate D runs:

10:A>B>C>D
15:B>A>C>D
23:C>A>B>D

If IFPP is generalized for four candidates, the quota becomes 12; A and D are
eliminated in the first round, then B beats C.  So entering Hitler (Stalin,
Nero, etc.) changes the winner from C to B, and entering another deadbeat
candidate would change the winner back to C!  Note that no higher quota could
be used since that would make it possible for all candidates to be eliminated
in the first round if they all had the same first-place totals.  Looks like the
quota fix to IRV only "works" for three candidates, making it all but useless.

On his page http://www.ijs.co.nz/irv-wrong-winners.htm Craig calls this IFPP
generalization the 'Q' method.

=====
Rob LeGrand
honky98 at aggies.org
http://www.aggies.org/honky98/

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