Since Number Voting (1, 2, etc.) is here via IRV, another method would be to sum the place votes for the first half of the places (if there is NO first place majority winner) -- pending computerized voting to do ALL the head to head math.
Example 5 choices NO first place majority choice. Sum the votes for each choice in the first 3 places. The 2 lowest sums lose -- the choices move up on the ballots having the losers. If still NO first place majority choice, then sum the first 2 places (of the 3 remaining). Lowest loses. The head to head winner wins. Since many IRV regimes will be having computerized voting, the obvious defects of IRV will be quickly revealed (producing extremist winners) -- probably allowing Condorcet to be used rather quickly and to bring up the question of YES/NO *absolute* votes -- since place votes only show *relative* votes. The problem is whether ANY country can survive a IRV election if it elects a leftwing/ rightwing extremist to a high office. ---- For more information about this list (subscribe, unsubscribe, FAQ, etc), please see http://www.eskimo.com/~robla/em
