[EM] Re: Use a "turkey" filter

[Anthony Duff]

 --- Chris Benham <chrisbenham at bigpond.com> wrote: >
In  Australia in Federal and most  State elections
> there is a ridiculous 
> and indefensible requirement for voters to  put a
> number in every box. 
> Most voters (certainly nearly all those with no
> clear, sincere second 
> and lower preferences) just fill out their ballots
> as their favourite 
> party advises them. 

True.  
I don’t know the reasoning for the ballot to be
compulsory fully ranked.
For an optional ranked ballot, look at NSW.

>so you can be sure that if  the
> method used was 
> Condorcet (especially with truncation allowed)  they
> would not be 
> advising  voters to elect so-called  "turkeys"

How can you be so sure?  Is the following hypothetical
so unrealistic?:

In a highly polarised campaign, a strong candidate
emphasizes the negatives of the incumbent and repeats
the catchy message "Put [the incumbent] last".  The
incumbent replies with similar negativity, "[the
challenger] is dangerous, put him last"  

If two large minorities put each other’s favourite
last then it becomes very likely that a minor
candidate will be a CW.  And seeing as the campaign
was so polarised, that minor candidate may have been
subjected to very little scrutiny.

> I can see no reason in principle why a  CW with no
> first preference 
> votes  is necessarily  in any way illegitimate (or a
> "turkey").

Me neither.  But does it hurt to be a little
pragmatic?  Apparently, IRVists can exploit the turkey
issue to criticize condorcet/approval.  Substantial
nomination requirements defeat the turkey argument. 
Would substantial nomination requirements do actual
electoral harm?

> Maybe with 
> Condorcet, candidates should have to achieve some
> minimum  Borda score 
> to get their cash deposit back.

A financial barrier to running is inequitable as it is
less of a burden on the rich.  To run for public
office, shouldn’t popular support be more important
than money?


Anthony




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