[EM] STAR cloneproof variant based on Score Chain Climbing

Ted Stern dodecatheon at gmail.com
Tue Feb 15 09:48:11 PST 2022


Here's a proposal for a STAR variant that handles clones:

Top two score winners (A and B), plus the score winner when you exclude the
top score winner ballots (by score weight), that's the clone-proof part.
Call that the exclusive winner, X. In other words, if a ballot gives a
score of 5 out of 10 to the top score winner, remove half that ballot's
weight.

Eliminate any candidates defeated by X.  If more than one remains, the
winner is the one who defeats the other.

This follows the logic of Forest Simmons' Score Chain Climbing to resolve
cycles.

The clone problem is that A and B could be clones. Removing A's ballot
contributors finds the non-clone while avoiding pushover incentive. If X
defeats both A and B, it's likely the CW. Otherwise, whichever of A or B is
defeated by X is "weaker" (low probability, but possible in cycles). Using
a lower-scoring candidate as an eliminator reduces burial incentive.

Why do I propose finding X that way instead of by a Hare or Droop quota?
Well, for one thing, it's a summable process. Next, if A has >50% approval,
A and B are probably the two candidates to choose from anyway. If A has
<50% approval, X is being found with something like a Hare quota, moving
more toward Droop as A's approval decreases.

Your thoughts?
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.electorama.com/pipermail/election-methods-electorama.com/attachments/20220215/ca12f65c/attachment.html>


More information about the Election-Methods mailing list