In cases where there is no time or technology to do Condorcet head to head
math in legislative bodies one somewhat quicker method is to eliminate a half
(or near half) of the choices at a time.
The combinations just above the dotted lines would be done. *NO choice* (aka
None of the Above -- NOTA) would be a choice.
The remaining choices would repeat the procedure down to 1 versus 1.
Obviously with 3 or more choices there may be a divided majority and with 4
or more choices there also may be a divided minority.
Choices
Groups
2 1 1
-----------
3 2 1
-----------
4 3 1
2 2
-----------
5 4 1
3 2
-----------
6 5 1
4 2
3 3
-----------
7 6 1
5 2
4 3
-----------
Thus for example- in the 7 case, 3 would lose, then 2 of the 4 would lose and
then 1 of the 2 would lose.
Most legislative issues are somewhat independent so I doubt that even a 4
choice case would happen often.
For the filling of blanks by numbers (such as tax rates or the number of
local police), medians can be used.
