[Phys-L] Re: A novel voting system

["Folkerts, Timothy J" <FolkertsT@BARTONCCC.EDU>]

> If Ann, Bob, and Chuck are candidates, a voter who is
> ambivalent toward Ann and Bob, but strongly opposes Chuck
> could cast a negative vote against Chuck.  Under a
> "half vote" system, the voter would have to cast a
> positive vote for either Ann or Bob (or not at all).

I certainly see the mathematical logic of negative votes, but I still
have a philosophical problem with negative votes.  What do you do when
the election comes out with a net negative vote for each candidate?  The
least unpopular person gets elected?

Besides, the BC system will still work in this scenario.  If 40 % want
Chuck, and 60% want Anyone But Chuck, in the initial election Chuck get
40%, and Ann & Bob share the other 60%.  Since no one won, the weaker of
A & B gets cut, and the other gets 60% to Chuck's 40%.  Chuck is
defeated.

As the Wiki suggests, there are numerous variations with subtle
differences, but on the whole, I don't think a negative vote is needed
(or effective).

Tim F

P.S.  I kept typing "electron" instead of "election".  Perhaps that is a
subconscious desire to get back to physics  ;-)
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