FPTP brings us runoffs because they have a need - their voters can
like more than one but cannot vote for more than one in any election.
Majority makes sense for them and they can force that by selecting
among only two in a runoff.
Runoffs are expensive for all involved, so it is not clear that a
majority should be demanded in methods such as Condorcet that allow
more complete expression and counting of desires in the main election.
Some, to compete among methods, would combine selected methods for a
test election, and use a runoff if the methods disagreed as to winner.
. I do not object to such for the purpose of testing methods, but
do object to imposing it on voters in an otherwise normal election -
it adds unneeded complications for those voters.
Dave Ketchum
On Feb 2, 2012, at 8:15 PM, Bruce Gilson wrote:
On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 7:45 AM, Jameson Quinn
<[email protected]> wrote:
For combined systems, I definitely prefer Abd's suggestion: vote a
Range ballot, count it by various rules, and if the winner by the
different rules does not agree, hold a runoff. In most cases, it
would agree; and in the rest, a runoff would be a worthwhile second
look at the best candidates, not a timewasting requirement to repeat
a determination already given.
As I have said numerous times, I really do not like any system that
would require a runoff. The big thing I dislike is that a voter,
having once taken the trouble to go to his polling place to cast a
vote, now finds he has to go yet again to settle the question -- in
effect, his previous trip was wasted. A secondary problem is that
the county, city, or whoever runs elections has to spend the money
to set up another poll. If schools have to be closed to use the
building as a polling place, there is further disruption.
Abd likes runoffs -- this argument I've had with him numerous times.
I absolutely detest them, for the reasons have just cited. I really
think that any method of holding elections that requires runoffs is
immediately unacceptable.
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