[EM] Are tied rankings valid in IRV?

[Rob Lanphier]

Hi all,

I'm doing some analysis of the Debian Project Leader election, and I'm 
trying to figure out who would have won that election had IRV been 
used.  In doing this, it seems the election was close enough that it 
matters whether or not tied rankings are allowed.  Many of the voters in 
that election voted for multiple candidates as their first choice candidate.

It strikes me that allowing for tied rankings would make IRV behave much 
like Approval.  If one ranks all "approved" candidates first in an IRV 
election, one could keep those candidates from getting eliminated in the 
early rounds.  This not only seems like a good strategy...it seems like 
the only winning strategy.

If that's the case, and IRV with tied-rankings works similarly to 
approval, would this be a good suggested improvement/clarification for 
IRV advocates?

Rob