Poll Update: Of course the nomination period has ended. And of course the voting period beginsimmediately when the nomination period ends. Note that I said “voting _period_”, and not “voting”, which is an entirely different matter. I did and do feel that I should propose a poll. I’ve been saying this in various ways previously, but let me say it in this way now: Though I wanted to make a poll available, and though you’re welcome to participate, that’s your business only. Please don’t think that I _expect_ anyone to participate. You might get that impression, given the care with which I’ve specified the poll and its nomination and balloting periods. It’s just something that I felt that I should do. Let me give you a tip: In general, with things like this, what matters, rather than the outcome, is what __you_ do. …that you did your part. That’s why I’m proceeding with the poll postings though there haven’t been any nominations other than my own. Likewise, I’ll post my ballot, regardless of whether it may be the only one. A demonstration ballot is part of a poll. So the voting period began Sunday, two days ago. Let’s say that the voting period ends on February 1st, at 0 hours, one minute, GMT (UT) if, at that time, there hasn’t been a ballot posted during the previous 72 hours. If there has, then the voting period ends as soon as, subsequent to February 1st, there hasn’t been a ballot posted for 72 hours. I’d initially suggested 3 ballotings for the poll. Two other people suggested two additional ones, for a total of 5. I’d like to add one more: Approval without other balloting options. I suggest that the poll should include such a ballot because traditionally all of EM’s polls have included an ordinary Approval balloting. So here are the 6 ballotings in the poll: Approval without other voting optionsApproval with other voting optionsScore Voting (0-99)3-Slot Unlimited RankingIRV3/AV3 I couldn’t find IRV3/AV3 in the electowiki, but I’m hoping that Dave will post its definition to EM. For my participation in EM, I’ve saved the poll for last. After the end of the voting period, I’ll put some method and criterion definitions in the electowiki. Then I’ll check out polls and polling possibilities elsewhere than EM. During the days when I’m doing those things, I’ll continue to look at the EM postings, and maybe sometimes comment when appropriate. My own ballot, the demonstration ballot, will combine 3-slot with unlimited rankings, because I’m not voting for more than two parties. Of course there’s no need to vote more than one 3-slot ranking, and, if desired, one longer ranking. That’s how people have traditionally voted in EM polls: One ranking. As for myself, I’ll vote 3 rankings: One for methods that fail the CD criterion; one for methods that pass CD and require mutual coalition support to defeat C in the ABE; and one for methods that pass CD and allow unilateral coalition-support to defeat C. But you needn’t bother with such distinctions. Typically people here have voted just one ranking. Mike Ossipoff ---- Election-Methods mailing list - see http://electorama.com/em for list info