Understanding Voting Methods

This video tutorial explains the plurality voting method, where the choice with the most first preference votes wins, and discusses its potential issues. It provides examples using West Coast states and spring break destinations to illustrate how plurality winners are determined. The video also introduces the Condorcet criterion, which identifies a winner preferred in every one-to-one comparison, and demonstrates finding a Condorcet winner through examples.

What is the main characteristic of the Plurality Voting Method?

• The choice with the least votes wins.

• The choice with the most first preference votes wins.

• The choice with the second most votes wins.

• The choice with the majority of votes wins.

In the first example, which state was the Plurality winner?

• Oregon

• Washington

• California

• Nevada

Why can a Plurality winner not be a Majority winner?

• Because it requires no votes.

• Because it requires exactly 50% of the votes.

• Because it requires more than 50% of the votes.

• Because it requires less than 50% of the votes.

What is a potential issue with the Plurality Voting Method?

• It is the same as the Condorcet method.

• It always results in a tie.

• It requires a majority to win.

• It can result in a winner who is not preferred in one-to-one comparisons.

What does the Condorcet Criterion state?

• A choice should win if it is the last option.

• A choice should win if it has the least votes.

• A choice should win if it has the most votes.

• A choice should win if it is preferred in every one-to-one comparison.

In the example with San Diego, Lake Havasu, and Rocky Point, who was the Condorcet winner?

• Lake Havasu

• None of the above

• San Diego

• Rocky Point

How does the Condorcet Criterion differ from the Plurality Method?

• It considers one-to-one comparisons.

• It ignores all votes.

• It only considers first preference votes.

• It requires a majority to win.

In the final example, which candidate was both the Plurality and Condorcet winner?

• Candidate B

• None of the candidates

• Candidate A

• Candidate C

What is the significance of a Condorcet winner?

• It is always the same as the Plurality winner.

• It is preferred in all one-to-one comparisons.

• It is never the same as the Plurality winner.

• It is the least preferred option.

What does the final example demonstrate about the Condorcet and Plurality methods?

• They can sometimes identify the same winner.

• They always identify different winners.

• They never identify the same winner.

• They are identical methods.