Ah, but there is a paradox: Consensus on one of the options does exist. The option just got dropped (failed n:1 requirements) due to people wanting another option, too. That is, I think, a technical
How the hell would it get dropped if people actually had a consensus and wanted it?
Given two orthogonal options, A and B, with a 3:1 requirement, and the default option C:
The true preferences:
A over C: 100
B over C: 90
C over A: 0
C over B: 10Truly, both should pass, but by putting A and B on the same ballot, one must be defeated. Some people consider A more important than B; others consider the opposite to be true. So, let's say:
A over B: 60
B over A: 40This means A is the ideal democratic winner. It is undefeated. It would be wrong for it to lose. There is a strong consensus for it --- it's unanimous.
However, if the people who prefer B over A all vote --- strategically and insincerely --- ACB, then let's read the Debian Constitution:
A.6.3. Any (non-default) option which does not defeat the default option by its required majority ratio is dropped from consideration.
1. Given two options A and B, V(A,B) is the number of voters who prefer option A over option B.
2. An option A defeats the default option D by a majority ratio N, if V(A,D) is strictly greater than N * V(D,A).
3. If a supermajority of S:1 is required for A, its majority ratio is S; otherwise, its majority ratio is 1.
V(A,D) = 60 N * V(D,A) = N * 40 = 3 * 40 = 120
V(A,D) > N*V(D,A) ? => no, so drop
That's how a consensus option gets dropped.
Notice that if both sides do that, every supermajority election will default. Despite unamity. I'm not sure if its fixable, but if it is, I'd like to help fix it. One thing that comes to mind is that orthogonal issues should be on separate ballots.
I hope this makes my concern clearer.
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