I see ranked choice, represented by IRV and Condorcet, as deserving serious consideration.
I offer an example emphasizing an IRV weakness - not expectable frequently, but earns really ugly publicity when it happens. Some competing methods: Plurality - pretty well agreed to be a loser. PR - worth considering when a district can be constructed for electing multiple members. Approval - a possibility when ranked choice ballots seem too difficult to implement. I call Approval unacceptably weak for not letting the voter indicate multiple levels of preference such as desired, acceptable, tolerable, reject. Some features: Permitting equal ranking for multiple candidates. Desirable for pleasing those who call Approval desirable; doable with Condorcet, though there can be arguments as to counting' Not doable as practical for IRV (explain how if you disagree). Demanding that voters rank all candidates. UNACCEPTABLE! Voters CANNOT be forced to do intelligent ranking among candidates they lump as rejects - especially when there are many rejects. Permitting voters to rank all candidates. ESSENTIAL for at least the voters' top three choices; more is better. I offer a vote for choosing when elections should be held: 8 MAR,APR 9 APR 10 MAY,APR 26 SEP,OCT 23 OCT 24 NOV,OCT Condorcet will recognize OCT as winner, over MAR,MAY,NOV,SEP,APR. IRV will not see OCT desirability, so will award APR after discarding MAR,MAY,OCT,NOV,SEP. -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] people.clarityconnect.com/webpages3/davek Dave Ketchum 108 Halstead Ave, Owego, NY 13827-1708 607-687-5026 Do to no one what you would not want done to you. If you want peace, work for justice. ---- election-methods mailing list - see http://electorama.com/em for list info