[EM] Best use of two bit ballots?

[fsimmons at pcc.edu]

----- Original Message -----
From: Kristofer Munsterhjelm 
Date: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 1:41 pm
Subject: Re: [EM] Best use of two bit ballots?
To: fsimmons at pcc.edu
Cc: election-methods at lists.electorama.com

> fsimmons at pcc.edu wrote:
> > So far SODA seems to be the best use of one bit ballots, i.e. 
> the Plurality style ballots which have just 
> > one bubble to the right of each name. 
> > 
> > What is the best way to use two bit ballots, i.e. ballots that 
> have two bubbles to the right of each name?
> 
> Two-bit ballots can distinguish between three levels plus one 
> bottom-ranked level. Thus, they can do ranked ballots for three 
> candidates (with equal rank and truncation), so it's hard to say.
> 
> Knowing whether to use these 2^2 levels for rank or for Range-
> style 
> rating depends on what method you think is the best. It could 
> also be 
> used for n-slot methods with n <= 4.
> 

Which interpretation would be least confusing for the voter?

Suppose, for example we have

[name]  (1)  (2)

What is the most natural interpretation for the voter that doesn't read the instructions?