This is the meat of it: As the Majority Criterion is being interpreted -- I have to say that Mr. Cary's arguments are quite convincing, taking me within what could be called validation distance of simply agreeing with him -- Approval Voting does not satisfy the Majority Criterion.
However, it does satisfy a *crucial* criterion that most methods don't. If the method has not resulted in a victory for the majority preference as described, *the electorate has approved of this failure, through majority vote.* Approval satisfies Majority rule, but not the Majority Criterion as interpreted. Many other methods don't demonstrate majority rule. That is, they will accept a winner who has not been accepted by a majority, it is quite possible that a majority would prefer a new election to be held than to accept that winner. And if a majority *rejects* a candidate, under basic democratic principles, that candidate should not take office. This is, indeed, the position of Robert's Rules of Order, as revised..... ---- election-methods mailing list - see http://electorama.com/em for list info
