I think the turkey issue is a real problem for condorcet and approval. A simple solution is to filter out the turkeys before they get on the ballot.
--- Adam Tarr <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > That said, I have argued in both my recent messages > that it's pretty > ridiculous to expect a candidate with > undifferentiated opinions to get a > vote, even a lower place vote, from nearly the > entire electorate. People > are not so easily duped, especially when the leaders > of the political > factions would be advising them to not cast a vote > for Mr. anonymous in > these situations. > > -Adam I don�t think it is ridiculous at all, it is in fact a probable outcome. Consider the Australian example. Ballots are ranked. Equal rankings are not allowed, except that truncation sometimes is. The count is conducted by IRV, not Condorcet, but I argue that that is nearly irrelevant � the masses are fully occupied , 1st, with decided which candidate they will prefer, and 2nd, with following the instructions on how to complete their ballots. Few enough understand the mechanics of vote counting, let alone analyse it. A typical result is (seen often enough during the physical sorting of ballots): 45% left>centrist>right 5% centrist>left?right 45% right>centrist<left various other candidates randomly interspersed. The centrist candidate is arguably a turkey who is eliminated by IRV but who would win under Condorcet. The important factor that leads to the above voting pattern is not a rational strategy, but the psychological urge to put your favourite�s most serious opponent *LAST*. After all, the elector's favourite will have been most lengthily denouncing that main opponent. Some other candidate will find themselves last an anyone�s ballot only if they are seriously repugnant. I believe the solution to the turkey problem best solved by filtering out turkeys before they even get on the ballot. A good way to do this is to require a significant number of nominations to get onto the ballot. Perhaps a number somewhere between 1% and 5% of eligible electors would be appropriate. Such a turkey filter would have associated benefits. The number of candidates would be kept small, and so the ballot could be kept simple and small. It would also be feasible for the media to pay reasonable attention to every candidate. It could even happen that most electors might know who all the candidates are before reading their names on the ballot! Anthony http://mobile.yahoo.com.au - Yahoo! Mobile - Check & compose your email via SMS on your Telstra or Vodafone mobile. ---- Election-methods mailing list - see http://electorama.com/em for list info
