This is some thought about keeping it simple, yet doable.
I will lean toward Ranked Pairs with margins, but amending toward
other types of Condorcet should be doable.
Voting: Voter can rank one or more candidates. Equal ranking
permitted. Counters care only which of any pair of candidates ranks
higher, not how voter decides on ranking. Write-ins permitted (if few
write-ins expected, counters may lump all such as if a single
candidate - if assumption correct the count verifies it; if incorrect,
must recount).
Counting: Besides the N*N matrix, I would add an N array to optimize
this. Count each ranked candidate in the array. Later the array will
be added into the matrix as if the ranked candidates won in every one
of their pairs. This is correct for pairs with no ranking, and for
pairs with one ranked. For pairs w/winner and loser, give loser a
negative count to adjust; for ties can leave both winning; or mark
both losing via negative count.
(For example, a ballot with 3 ranks gets 3 counts in N, and
adjustments for 3 pairs in N*N)
On Mar 10, 2010, at 12:54 AM, Chris Benham wrote:
Re: [EM] Burlington Vermont repeals IRV 52% to 48%
...
I think the name "Ranked Pairs" normally applies to the Margins
version.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranked_Pairs
"The RP procedure is as follows:
1. Tally the vote count comparing each pair of candidates, and
determine the winner of each pair (provided there is not a tie)
2. Sort (rank) each pair, by the largest margin of victory first to
smallest last.
3. "Lock in" each pair, starting with the one with the largest
number of winning votes, and add one in turn to a graph as long as
they do not create a cycle (which would create an ambiguity). The
completed graph shows the winner. "
Chris Benham
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