SECTION 12A HIGHLIGHTS
Assignment: Read about Voting in Section 12A of the text. Do pp.
666-669 RQ(1,2,6,7),
BSC(15-20,22-28,30-33), WP(40, 41).
Web Project #40 Link: ACADEMY AWARD
VOTING
Vocabulary: Popular vote, Electoral Vote, Majority, Super Majority, Plurality, Runoff, Preference Schedule, Borda Count,Pairwise Comparison.
Notes:
In this section you are asked to explore various voting techniques which are
used by groups to choose between candidates. Some of these voting methods may
require a preference schedule. To produce a preference schedule each
voter lists, in order of preference, all of the candidates. All of the
votes, with their associated preference order, are compiled into a table called
a preference schedule. An example of this is shown on page 661 of the
text.
TWO ALTERNATIVES - In a choice between two candidates a simple majority may be used. In some cases there may be a call for a super majority. In these cases some percentage higher than 50% is required to elect a candidate.
THREE OR MORE CHOICES -
1. Plurality - With this simple method the candidate that earns the highest
percentage of votes is declared the winner.
2. Runoff - Votes are counted and a second election is held which includes only
the top two first place vote getters. This can be done using a preference
schedule if all candidates but the top two vote getters are eliminated and the
preference schedule is consolidated and examined for the two remaining
candidates.
3. Sequential Runoffs- A runoff done in stages where the candidate with the
fewest first place votes is eliminated in each stage. Upon the elimination of a
candidate the preference schedule is consolidated and examined for the
remaining candidates. The process is continued in stages until one
candidate has a majority of the votes.
4. Borda Count- Using a preference schedule assign different point values for
each vote of a particular rank and count up total points for each
candidate. The candidate with the most points wins the election.
5. Pairwise Comparison- Using a preference schedule, pair each candidate with
every other candidate head to head and see who wins the most head to head
matches. The candidate with the most head to head wins is declared the
winner.
MORAL OF THE STORY -
After reading pages 661-666 in the text you will observe that depending upon
the voting method chosen, a given preference schedule may have several
different outcomes. It is, therefore, reasonable to disagree
about who should be elected in an election with more than two candidates.
Skills to be mastered:
1. Interpret a preference schedule.
2. Choose the winner of an election using the following methods: Plurality, Top
Two Runoff, Sequential Runoff, Borda Count, and Pairwise Comparison.