Essay:RationalWiki election reform – electoral system

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For future moderator elections, my preferred electoral system would use ranked choice voting and a head-to-head points system similar to the Kemeny–Young method.

How it works[edit]

Each candidate will be compared with every other candidate based on voting preferences. The candidates will receive points in these head-to-head comparisons:

2 points for a clear win: at least 50% of all voters preferred one candidate AND they received at least 60% of the head-to-head preferences.
1.5 points for a marginal win: less than 50% of voters preferred one candidate OR they received less than 60% of the head-to-head preferences.
1 point for a draw.
0.5 points for a marginal loss: a loss to a candidate that only had a marginal win.
0 points for a clear loss: a loss to a candidate that had a clear win.

Tie-breaking:

If two candidates end up on the same number of points, then their head-to-head will decide who is ranked higher. If their head-to-head was a draw, then the candidate with the greater number of 1st choice preferences is ranked higher. If that is tied, then compare 2nd choice preferences and so on.
If more than two candidates end up on the same number of points, then these candidates will be compared with one another and ranked based on points. If candidates are tied on points again, then look at first choice preferences and so on. For example:
Candidates A, B and C are all tied on 11 points. A has a clear win over B and C. B has a draw with C.

Therefore, A is ranked highest with 4 points, then B and C with 1 point each. B has the greater number of first choice preferences and is therefore ranked above C.

Advantages of this system[edit]

You can simultaneously vote for candidates you like by placing them higher in the ranking and also vote against candidates by placing them at the end. It will now matter if a candidate is consistently ranked last. This prevents highly unpopular candidates from succeeding due to a handful of first choice preferences.
Each of your preferences will make a difference to the result, instead of only the first few preferences.
The result is a better reflection of what voters want.
Using the same ballots and the current system (Single transferable vote), Pbfreespace3 finished 8th out of 13 despite clearly losing all but one head-to-head with other candidates.
Manipulating election results is significantly more difficult with this system
It encourages users to rank all 13 candidates and removes any need for tactical voting^{[note 1]}

Example using the 2017 moderator election ballots[edit]

Ballots[edit]

The election contained 36 ballots.

Ballot file

13 8
1 4 9 2 12 8 6 7 5 10 0
1 9 12 5 2 7 3 6 8 10 4 1 0
1 8 4 9 6 7 3 12 2 5 10 1 11 13 0
1 5 7 2 12 9 10 8 3 4 6 1 0
1 10 1 4 8 9 12 5 3 2 7 6 0
1 7 2 3 12 6 9 10 5 4 8 11 1 13 0
1 13 1 4 8 3 7 2 12 9 5 10 6 11 0
1 9 8 4 2 7 12 3 6 5 10 13 1 11 0
1 7 3 2 9 10 8 1 5 4 6 12 13 11 0
1 6 9 4 12 2 8 5 7 10 1 3 13 11 0
1 12 0
1 7 9 10 4 3 5 8 6 1 2 12 13 11 0
1 9 4 12 0
1 2 9 4 11 7 0
1 1 6 9 8 7 0
1 4 6 8 10 12 3 7 2 1 9 0
1 9 3 11 7 5 0
1 9 3 7 2 5 6 12 1 4 10 8 13 0
1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 0
1 10 2 4 12 3 5 9 7 6 8 1 11 13 0
1 3 9 7 0
1 9 5 3 4 1 2 6 13 7 12 8 11 10 0
1 12 2 7 9 0
1 6 11 4 2 7 13 0
1 11 9 10 1 4 6 7 2 3 0
1 3 9 2 11 8 10 5 4 0
1 11 9 10 6 4 3 1 7 2 0
1 2 6 7 9 4 8 10 12 5 0
1 2 7 6 3 4 1 5 10 12 0
1 13 10 9 8 1 2 12 11 6 7 3 5 4 0
1 9 12 4 7 2 8 11 0
1 6 2 12 8 9 5 10 4 1 7 3 11 13 0
1 11 0
1 7 2 8 12 5 9 3 4 6 10 1 0
1 9 2 12 7 4 5 3 10 6 1 8 13 11 0
1 2 5 8 9 0
0
"Bigs"
"Bongolian"
"CheeseburgerFace"
"Christopher"
"Cosmikdebris"
"CowHouse"
"DiamondDisc1"
"Kazitor"
"LeftyGreenMario"
"Nerd"
"Pbfreespace3"
"Spud"
"Xbony2"
"Moderator Elections 2017!"

Detailed head-to-head results[edit]

Head-to-head results in detail (Warning: very long)

Bigs 9, Bongolian 22, No preference 5^{[note 2]}
- Bongolian CLEAR WIN with 18 or more votes^{[note 3]} and 71% head-to-head.
Bigs 8, CheeseburgerFace 18, No preference 10
- CheeseburgerFace CLEAR WIN with 18+ votes and 69%.
Bigs 8, Christopher 22, No preference 6
- Christopher CLEAR WIN, 73%
Bigs 10, Cosmikdebris 18, No preference 8
- Cosmikdebris CLEAR WIN, 64%
Bigs 8, CowHouse 18, No preference 10
- CowHouse CLEAR WIN, 69%
Bigs 9, DiamondDisc1 22, No preference 5
- DiamondDisc1 CLEAR WIN, 71%
Bigs 10, Kazitor 18, No preference 8
- Kazitor CLEAR WIN, 64%
Bigs 6, LeftyGreenMario 27, No preference 3
- LeftyGreenMario CLEAR WIN, 82%
Bigs 6, Nerd 20, No preference 10
- Nerd CLEAR WIN, 77%
Bigs 20, Pbfreespace3 9, No preference 7
- Bigs CLEAR WIN, 69%
Bigs 11, Spud 18, No preference 7
- Spud CLEAR WIN, 62%
Bigs 20, Xbony2 4, No preference 12
- Bigs CLEAR WIN, 83%
Bongolian 20, CheeseburgerFace 12, No preference 4
- Bongolian CLEAR WIN, 63%
Bongolian 17, Christopher 14, No preference 5
- Bongolian MARGINAL WIN, 55%
Bongolian 25, Cosmikdebris 6, No preference 5
- Bongolian CLEAR WIN, 81%
Bongolian 22, CowHouse 9, No preference 5
- Bongolian CLEAR WIN, 71%
Bongolian 18, DiamondDisc1 15, No preference 3
- Bongolian MARGINAL WIN, 55%
Bongolian 23, Kazitor 8, No preference 5
- Bongolian CLEAR WIN, 74%
Bongolian 15, LeftyGreenMario 19, No preference 2
- LeftyGreenMario MARGINAL WIN, 56%
Bongolian 23, Nerd 7, No preference 6
- Bongolian CLEAR WIN, 77%
Bongolian 27, Pbfreespace3 5, No preference 4
- Bongolian CLEAR WIN, 84%
Bongolian 23, Spud 9, No preference 4
- Bongolian CLEAR WIN, 72%
Bongolian 28, Xbony2 2, No preference 6
- Bongolian CLEAR WIN, 93%
CheeseburgerFace 13, Christopher 18, No preference 5
- Christopher MARGINAL WIN, 58%
CheeseburgerFace 17, Cosmikdebris 11, No preference 8
- CheeseburgerFace MARGINAL WIN, less than 18 votes and 61%
CheeseburgerFace 17, CowHouse 12, No preference 7
- CheeseburgerFace MARGINAL WIN, less than 18 votes and 59%
CheeseburgerFace 11, DiamondDisc1 21, No preference 4
- DiamondDisc1 CLEAR WIN, 66%
CheeseburgerFace 15, Kazitor 15, No preference 6
- DRAW
CheeseburgerFace 9, LeftyGreenMario 24, No preference 3
- LeftyGreenMario CLEAR WIN, 73%
CheeseburgerFace 15, Nerd 12, No preference 9
- CheeseburgerFace MARGINAL WIN, 56%
CheeseburgerFace 22, Pbfreespace3 7, No preference 7
- CheeseburgerFace CLEAR WIN, 76%
CheeseburgerFace 14, Spud 17, No preference 5
- Spud MARGINAL WIN, 55%
CheeseburgerFace 23, Xbony2 3, No preference 10
- CheeseburgerFace CLEAR WIN, 88%
Christopher 19, Cosmikdebris 12, No preference 5
- Christopher CLEAR WIN, 18+ votes and 61%
Christopher 19, CowHouse 11, No preference 6
- Christopher CLEAR WIN, 63%
Christopher 18, DiamondDisc1 15, No preference 3
- Christopher MARGINAL WIN, 55%
Christopher 20, Kazitor 11, No preference 5
- Christopher CLEAR WIN, 65%
Christopher 9, LeftyGreenMario 25, No preference 2
- LeftyGreenMario CLEAR WIN, 74%
Christopher 17, Nerd 12, No preference 7
- Christopher MARGINAL WIN, 59%
Christopher 24, Pbfreespace 7, No preference 5
- Christopher CLEAR WIN, 77%
Christopher 20, Spud 11, No preference 5
- Christopher CLEAR WIN, 65%
Christopher 27, Xbony2 2, No preference 7
- Christopher CLEAR WIN 93%
Cosmikdebris 15, CowHouse 14, No preference 7
- Cosmikdebris MARGINAL WIN, 52%
Cosmikdebris 10, DiamondDisc1 23, No preference 3
- DiamondDisc1 CLEAR WIN, 70%
Cosmikdebris 12, Kazitor 15, No preference 9
- Kazitor MARGINAL WIN, 56%
Cosmikdebris 6, LeftyGreenMario 27, No preference 3
- LeftyGreenMario CLEAR WIN, 82%
Cosmikdebris 16, Nerd 11, No preference 9
- Cosmikdebris MARGINAL WIN, 59%
Cosmikdebris 21, Pbfreespace3 9, No preference 6
- Cosmikdebris CLEAR WIN, 70%
Cosmikebris 10, Spud 19, No preference 7
- Spud CLEAR WIN, 66%
Cosmikdebris 22, Xbony2 3, No preference 11
- Cosmikdebris CLEAR WIN, 88%
CowHouse 13, DiamondDisc1 18, No preference 5
- DiamondDisc1 MARGINAL WIN, 58%
CowHouse 16, Kazitor 13, No preference 7
- CowHouse MARGINAL WIN, 55%
CowHouse 9, LeftyGreenMario 25, No preference 2
- LeftyGreenMario CLEAR WIN, 74%
CowHouse 16, Nerd 11, No preference 9
- CowHouse MARGINAL WIN, 59%
CowHouse 23, Pbfreespace3 8, No preference 5
- CowHouse CLEAR WIN, 74%
CowHouse 15, Spud 15, No preference 6
- DRAW
CowHouse 24, Xbony2 2, No preference 10
- CowHouse CLEAR WIN 92%
DiamondDisc1 21, Kazitor 12, No preference 3
- DiamondDisc1 CLEAR WIN, 64%
DiamondDisc1 12, LeftyGreenMario 22, No preference 2
- LeftyGreenMario CLEAR WIN, 65%
DiamondDisc1 24, Nerd 8, No preference 4
- DiamondDisc1 CLEAR WIN, 75%
DiamondDisc1 25, Pbfreespace3 8, No preference 3
- DiamondDisc1 CLEAR WIN 76%
DiamondDisc1 20, Spud 13, No preference 3
- DiamondDisc1 CLEAR WIN, 18+ votes and 61%
DiamondDisc1 28, Xbony2 3, No preferences 5
- DiamondDisc1 CLEAR WIN 90%
Kazitor 8, LeftyGreenMario 24, No preference 4
- LeftyGreenMario CLEAR WIN, 75%
Kazitor 16, Nerd 12, No preference 8
- Kazitor MARGINAL WIN, 57%
Kazitor 24, Pbfreespace3 7, No preference 5
- Kazitor CLEAR WIN, 77%
Kazitor 14, Spud 15, No preference 7
- Spud MARGINAL WIN, 52%
Kazitor 23, Xbony2 3, No preference 10
- Kazitor CLEAR WIN, 88%
LeftyGreenMario 28, Nerd 5, No preference 3
- LeftyGreenMario CLEAR WIN, 85%
LeftyGreenMario 30, Pbfreespace3 4, No preference 2
- LeftyGreenMario CLEAR WIN, 88%
LeftyGreenMario 24, Spud 10, No preference 2
- LeftyGreenMario CLEAR WIN, 71%
LeftyGreenMario 30, Xbony2 3, No preference 3
- LeftyGreenMario CLEAR WIN, 91%
Nerd 21, Pbfreespace3 9, No preference 6
- Nerd CLEAR WIN, 70%
Nerd 12, Spud 17, No preference 7
- Spud MARGINAL WIN, 59%
Nerd 22, Xbony2 4, No preference 10
- Nerd CLEAR WIN, 85%
Pbfreespace3 8, Spud 25, No preference 3
- Spud CLEAR WIN, 76%
Pbfreespace3 12, Xbony2 10, No preference 14
- Pbfreespace 3 MARGINAL WIN, 55%
Spud 23, Xbony2 4, No preference 9
- Spud CLEAR WIN, 85%

Ladder[edit]

Show ladder

LeftyGreenMario: 23.5 points
WINS: 11 clear, 1 marginal
Bongolian: 21.5 points
WINS: 9 clear, 2 marginal

LOSSES: 1 marginal
Christopher: 19 points
WINS: 7 clear, 3 marginal

LOSSES: 1 marginal, 1 clear
DiamondDisc1: 18.5 points
WINS: 8 clear, 1 marginal

LOSSES: 2 marginal, 1 clear
Spud: 13.5 points
WINS: 4 clear, 3 marginal

DRAWS: 1

LOSSES: 4 clear
CheeseburgerFace: 12.5 points
WINS: 3 clear, 3 marginal

DRAWS: 1

LOSSES: 2 marginal, 3 clear
CowHouse: 11.5 points
WINS: 3 clear, 2 marginal

DRAWS: 1

LOSSES: 3 marginal, 3 clear
Kazitor: 11 points
WINS: 3 clear, 2 marginal

DRAWS: 1

LOSSES: 2 marginal, 4 clear
Cosmikdebris: 10 points
WINS: 3 clear, 2 marginal

LOSSES: 2 marginal, 5 clear
Nerd: 9 points
WINS: 3 clear

LOSSES: 6 marginal, 3 clear
Bigs: 4 points
WINS: 2 clear

LOSSES: 10 clear
Pbfreespace3: 1.5 points
WINS: 1 marginal

LOSSES: 11 clear
Xbony2: 0.5 points
LOSSES: 1 marginal, 11 clear.

Notes[edit]

↑ An example of tactical voting would be if a voter chose not to rank their preferred candidate first because that candidate was clearly already popular and would be likely to receive enough votes to win anyway.
↑ "No preference" means that neither candidate was ranked when comparing two votes.
↑ 18 is the threshold since it is half of the total number of ballots (36)