1. Voting Preference Ballots and Preference Schedules
DM.8

2. Vocabulary
A Preference Ballot is a ballot in which the voters are asked to rank the candidates in order of preference. This is not the most typical style of voting. A Linear Ballot is a ballot in which ties are not allowed. This is the preferred type of voting. A Preference Schedule is a way to organize the ballots by grouping together identical ballots. Usually placed in a table format. Voters’ preferences are Transitive, which is another way of saying “If they prefer A over B and B over C, then They prefer A over C.”

3. Preference Schedule Ex: Number of ballots that match Number of voters5 3 1
1st A C B
2nd D
3rd
4th

4. Plurality Method
Plurality voting is a voting system for elections with several candidates in which the candidate with the most first place votes wins. This is the most commonly used style of voting.

5. Example of Plurality Voting
Imagine that student employees on your campus have decided to organize to win the effort to improve their salaries and working conditions. As a first step, a group of 33 students, calling themselves the Undergraduate Labor Council (ULC), have just had an election to choose their president. The result for the elections are as follows:
Using the Plurality Method who is the winner of this election?
What percentage of students actually voted for Carmin?
Ann 10
Ben 9
Carmin 11
Doreen 3

6. Majority Rule
Majority Rule is a voting system for elections with two candidates in which the candidate preferred by more than half the voters is the winner.

7. Example
How many votes are needed for Majority? Who would win using the Plurality Method A, B, C, D? Why?
Number of voters 5 3 1
1st A C B
2nd D
3rd
4th

8. Borda Count
Borda Count is voting method for elections with several candidates in which points are assigned to voters’ preferences and these points are added for each candidate to determine a winner. Sports use this method often to rank teams.

9. Example:
Assume ULC used the Borda Method to determine its president. The table provides you with the preference ballots cast in the election. Who is the winner of the election? A – Ann B – Ben C – Carmin D - Doreen
Preference 6 7 5 3 9
1st C A B D
2nd
3rd
4th

10. Solutions
Ann 93
Ben 87
Carmin 83
Doreen 76

11. Assignments
Classwork – Pg ,3,5, 9,11 a&b,15,17 a,b&c , 23,25 Homework – Pg ,4,6,10,12a&b,16,18 a,b&c, 24,26