On November 8, 2011, Portland, Maine voters will choose a Mayor using Instant Runoff Voting. This Portland Press Herald story illustrates the ballot. Fifteen candidates are running for Mayor. Voters may rank as many of them as they wish. Click once on the picture of the ballot to magnify it.
I wonder how many ballots will be “run off” the final count because voters disregard these two instructions?
“Fill in no more than one oval per candidate”
“Fill in no more than one oval per column”
I think the idea is interesting, but I wouldn’t want to be a poll worker when these ballots are used.
Why is a majority so much better than a plurality?
Will the math that arrives at a majority be published after the results are tabulated?
Will third party candidates benefit from this method? Any proof of that?