Submission + - Math Awareness Month 2008 is on Voting (amstat.org)
chamilto0516 writes: "No politics here, just mathematics: One of the surprising aspects of voting that we learn from mathematics is that the outcome of an election may more accurately reflect the voting method rather than the voters' wishes. To illustrate this phenomena, we provide you with the opportunity to vote from among a set of presidential candidates using three different methods. Method 1 is the traditional voting system, in which you simply select your favorite candidate. Just one candidate, no more. In method 2, you vote for all of the candidates you would consider acceptable, as many or as few as you wish. In method 3, you rank the candidates from most preferred to least, and points are assigned accordingly.
After you vote, you will see the status of this "election" up through and including your vote. If the "winner" is different using one or more methods, don't be surprised."
