There are a lot of complex and controversial discussions surrounding voting methods. Here, I try to short-circuit almost all the complexity and introduce a simplified scenario. Although unrealistic, this reveals what I think is an important feature of voting methods.

A Very Simple Scenario

You’re on a school basketball team, visiting from out-of-state. You won your last game, but won’t be returning home until tomorrow. There’s time to catch a movie! Five movies are showing at a local theater. Some of your teammates want to see something dramatic, while others want something light and comedic. Others prefer something in between – enough drama to make you invested, but some humor as well. The coach insists that everyone goes to the same movie, in the name of team-building. They pass out ballots…

This was a leading question on my mind when I started to write my own voting simulation. Years ago, a close friend of mine shared with me how he often votes. To choose who to vote for in high offices, he does a lot of research to find someone who is scarcely-known but who seems like someone he could fully support. He writes their name on his ballot. I’ve always admired this! It shows dedication and independent thought.