[EM] DMC, Ties & Eppley's RVH

[Eric Gorr]

Eric Gorr wrote:

> The primary reason why the RVH is better then simply selecting a tied 
> candidate at random is because it provides a statistical edge to those 
> candidates who are preferred by a majority of voters.

For a concrete example, let's say that you have a genuine three way tie, 
with 100 voters total:


50:a>c>b
50:b>c>a


50 voters prefer a>c
50 voters prefer a>b
50 voters prefer c>b
50 voters prefer c>a
50 voters prefer b>c
50 voters prefer b>a

Now, simply selecting one of these candidates at random, provides 'c' 
with a ~33% to win the election. Does this make sense? Not 
really...after all, 'c' was not the first place choice of _any_ voter. 
The RVH recognizes this and would provide 'c' with absolutely no 
opportunity to win. It provides 'a' and 'b' a 50% chance to win.



-- 
== Eric Gorr =============================== http://www.ericgorr.net ===
"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire,
a troublesome servant and a fearful master." - George Washington
== Insults, like violence, are the last refuge of the incompetent... ===