There is much discussion of proposed complex methods.
Fine, except I claim that many elections need to be kept simple for
intelligent participation by our least capable voters. Needs:
Ala Plurality, voter can rank a single candidate.
Ala Approval, voter can rank two candidates as equally liked.
Voter can rank two candidates as one liked better than the other.
Voter can combine the above thoughts to rank up to all candidates on
the ballot.
In the above, voter can write=in a candidate in addition to those on
the ballot.
Voter participates in ONE use of a ballot:
Voter must be able to learn of the candidates.
While activity such as polling can be useful, learning as much as
some claim about expectable voting seems, and should be, undoable (with
possible useless exceptions).
Perhaps there is a primary election - but ONLY by some value offered
- this shall not be an essential component.
As ONE activity at ONE time the voter votes.
After the voting the votes are counted and the winner announced.
NO reruns or other voter action.
True ties resolved by honest random choice.
A few thoughts:
Plurality or Approval cannot fill need.
IRV uses about the same ballot as Condorcet - but deserves rejection
for its method of counting.
Condorcet can - but I am trying to word this to also accept other
methods that satisfy need.
Range does much the same, but needs better words than I have seen as
to how, simply, to rate SoSo when ranking would be Good>SoSo>Bad.
Method needs to be understandable by voters (I read compaints about
handling of Condorcet cycles - I claim that they do not need to be
ubderstood in detail - mostly that discussing frequency and effect should
satisfy most).
The methods that inspired this missive claim to offer some, possible
valuable, benefits - at a cost that may be prohibitive - leave them to
audiences who agree the benefits are worth the cost.
--
davek at clarityconnect.com people.clarityconnect.com/webpages3/davek
Dave Ketchum 108 Halstead Ave, Owego, NY 13827-1708 607-687-5026
Do to no one what you would not want done to you.
If you want peace, work for justice.