Questions and Answers
What is a Condorcet winner?
x wins in a pairwise majority contest against any other alternative
What is another name for vote trading?
Logrolling
What characterizes a median voter?
n or fewer votes have their ideal points to the left of M's ideal point and n or fewer votes have their ideal points to the right of M's ideal point
In approval voting, voters choose their single most preferred alternative.
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The Borda count is a voting method where voters rank alternatives and points are assigned accordingly.
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If there is no Condorcet winner, then there must be a cycle in a majority contest.
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With two competing parties, gerrymandering can always ensure any distribution of seats.
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A voter may be better off voting strategically than sincerely.
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A voting profile is single-peaked if every voter's preferences have a single peak.
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If voters unanimously prefer alternative x to y, then y can never be the winner.
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A cycle in a majority contest arises when there are at least three alternatives that beat each other in a round-robin fashion.
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If an alternative wins a plurality, it must be a Condorcet winner.
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Study Notes
Voting Concepts and Definitions
- Condorcet Winner: An alternative that defeats all other options in pairwise majority contests, signifying robust overall preference.
- Vote Trading (Logrolling): A strategic agreement between voters to exchange votes to achieve mutual interests or policy outcomes.
Voter Preferences
- Median Voter: A crucial concept in voting theory where the ideal points of n or fewer votes exist on both sides of the median voter's preference, indicating balanced voter distribution.
- Single-peaked Preferences: Preferences structured such that voters only have one peak in their rankings when alternatives are arranged linearly, affecting choice outcomes.
Voting Methodologies
- Approval Voting: Characterized by voters selecting their most preferred option; however, this question is marked false indicating a misunderstanding.
- Borda Count: An alternative voting system where voters rank options, with points assigned decreasingly from most to least preferred; the option with the highest total score wins.
Voting Dynamics and Outcomes
- Majority Cycles: Occur in scenarios without a Condorcet winner where preferences cycle between three or more alternatives, indicating inconsistency in majority preferences.
- Gerrymandering: A false assertion claims that skilled gerrymandering can always guarantee any desired seat distribution between two parties; this is not always feasible in practice.
Strategic vs. Sincere Voting
- Strategic Voting: Voters may sometimes benefit more by voting strategically, choosing a candidate they perceive as viable rather than their first choice.
- Preference Order and Agenda Management: If voters unanimously prefer one option (x) over another (y), y should not emerge as the winner regardless of any agenda or preference profile.
Key False Assertions
- Plurality and Condorcet Connection: Winning a plurality does not guarantee that the alternative is a Condorcet winner, a common misconception in voting theory.
- Voting Dynamics: Understanding the implications of voters' preferences and the potential for cycles within majority contests is crucial in evaluating electoral systems.
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Test your knowledge with these flashcards focused on key concepts relevant to Voter Preference Models (VPM). Each card presents terms and definitions that are essential for understanding voting theory and pairwise contests. Perfect for preparing for your midterm exam.
