Mr. Cretney wrote-- But Donald, IRV _is_ a Bottom Method. By attempting to mandate a majority when none exists, you end up counting detractors as supporters. Then your majority-by-fiat will elect someone despised by a majority. Example: 49% A(10) B(9) C(0) 25% B(10) C(1) A(0) 26% C(10) B(9) A(0) On a scale of 0..10, candidate B is rated by every voter as being very near that voter's favorite. In other words, B is a Top Candidate (and is almost certainly the Approval winner). Plurality winner A is another top candidate, with nearly a majority of first-choice votes. With IRV, a Bottom Method, candidate C wins with a manufactured majority, even though B is despised by 74% of the voters (a Bottom Candidate if there ever was one). Surely you must agree that a majority consisting of 26% supporters and 74% detractors is a Ghost Majority, if that term has any meaning at all. And you are right, with a Bottom Method such as IRV, the 49% who supported A are not allowed to change their votes, and must stay with the loser. --- D- The B and C folks are yet another divided majority. What happens if there is a YES/NO vote on each choice ??? Which of the choices get a YES majority ??? Let us guess or do the math. Duh-- does only B get a YES majority (besides beating each of the others head to head) ???
