This is a procedural standard that, by itself, isn't enough. So my other, properties-oriented, standards & criteria, relating 1st Choice abandonment and majority rule are what are important to me. Still, it's worth mentioning a criterion about preferences being counted, because IRO fails even that most basic & obvious procedural criterion. We like rank balloting because it expresses any preference you want to express. It's reasonable to ask that those preferences be counted, fully & reliably. IRV fails that in a really obvious way. When it eliminates someone whom you need in order to beat someone worse, because your vote hasn't reached him yet, then it's ignoring your expressed preference for him over those you've ranked him over. That's inexcusable. Is it really possible that anyone could advocate a method that fails in that gross way? Mike
