[EM] [CES #4435] Looking at Condorcet - Runoffs

[Dave Ketchum]

FPTP brings us runoffs because they have a need - their voters can  
like more than one but cannot vote for more than one in any election.   
Majority makes sense for them and they can force that by selecting  
among only two in a runoff.

Runoffs are expensive for all involved, so it is not clear that a  
majority should be demanded in methods such as Condorcet that allow  
more complete expression and counting of desires in the main election.

Some, to compete among methods, would combine selected methods for a  
test election, and use a runoff if the methods disagreed as to winner.
.     I do not object to such for the purpose of testing methods, but  
do object to imposing it on voters in an otherwise normal election -  
it adds unneeded complications for those voters.

Dave Ketchum

On Feb 2, 2012, at 8:15 PM, Bruce Gilson wrote:
> On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 7:45 AM, Jameson Quinn  
> <jameson.quinn at gmail.com> wrote:
> For combined systems, I definitely prefer Abd's suggestion: vote a  
> Range ballot, count it by various rules, and if the winner by the  
> different rules does not agree, hold a runoff. In most cases, it  
> would agree; and in the rest, a runoff would be a worthwhile second  
> look at the best candidates, not a timewasting requirement to repeat  
> a determination already given.
>
>
>
> As I have said numerous times, I really do not like any system that  
> would require a runoff. The big thing I dislike is that a voter,  
> having once taken the trouble to go to his polling place to cast a  
> vote, now finds he has to go yet again to settle the question -- in  
> effect, his previous trip was wasted. A secondary problem is that  
> the county, city, or whoever runs elections has to spend the money  
> to set up another poll. If schools have to be closed to use the  
> building as a polling place, there is further disruption.
>
> Abd likes runoffs -- this argument I've had with him numerous times.  
> I absolutely detest them, for the reasons  have just cited. I really  
> think that any method of holding elections that requires runoffs is  
> immediately unacceptable.

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