Condorcet method
Proper noun
Meaning
Condorcet method
A voting system that selects the candidate who would beat each of the other candidates in a run-off election
Related terms
Examples
As noted above, if there is no Condorcet winner a further method must be used to find the winner of the election, and this mechanism varies from one Condorcet method to another.
Definition A Condorcet method is a voting system that will always elect the Condorcet winner; this is the candidate whom voters prefer to each other candidate, when compared to them one at a time.
Ramon Llull devised the earliest known Condorcet method in 1299. citation His method did not have voters express orders of preference; instead, it had a round of voting for each of the possible pairings of candidates.
Demonstration and commentary on Condorcet method.
Nashville will thus win an election held under any possible Condorcet method.
Nonetheless an ambiguity is always possible, and so every Condorcet method must be capable of determining a winner when this occurs.