MA 111–Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics
Voting Theory
Worksheet # 1
Derek is running congress. His campaign advisers must decide on a keystone issue for the campaign.
The 10 advisers each rank the following issues in order of importance: Environmental and Energy Policy,
Immigration Policy, Marriage Policy, and Tax Policy. A preference schedule of how the advisers voted is
given below.
4
2
1
3
1st
E
M
T
I
2nd
T
E
M M
3rd M
I
I
T
4th
I
T
E
E
1. Which issue wins using the Plurality Method ?
2. Is there a majority winner? Why or why not?
3. Which issue wins under the Borda Count Method ?
4. Which issue wins using the Pairwise Comparison Method ?
5. Is there a Condorcet Candidate? Why or why not?
6. Suppose Derek’s campaign committee decides to make Environmental issues the keystone issue. Do
you think that this is the right choice? If so, explain why. If not, explain which issue you would choose
and why.