Consensus Choice, a new Condorcet voting method

Better Choices for Democracy offers Consensus Choice as an alternative to traditional plurality voting and Ranked Choice Voting. Consensus Choice flier

As a Condorcet method, Consensus Choice will always elect the candidate who “beats all” the other candidates one-on-one, if there is such a candidate in the election.

Like BTR-Score voting, the Consensus Choice voting method combines Condorcet fairness and reliability with simplicity and a reasonable argument for state constitutional compliance.

The creator of BTR-Score, Nicolaus Tidman, is on the Better Choices board of directors. Former Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia is a key backer.

How it works:

1. Candidates from all parties compete in an open blanket primary. Four or five candidates advance to the general election.

The Better Choices website gives little detail about their primary. Perhaps their primary will favor wealthy and well-financed independent candidates like the Top Four and Final Five Primaries. For a blanket primary fair to all candidates; check out our Neutral Open Primaries.

2. Voters rank all candidates

3. Candidates are compared head-to-head, like a round-robin tournament. Wins and losses for each pair of candidates are determined from each ballot.

4. The results from all the ballots determine who wins each match of the round-robin tournament.

5. If a candidate beats all the other candidates one-on-one, that candidate wins.

Most Wins, Smallest Loss tiebreaker - If there is no “beats all” winner, the candidate with the most wins is elected. In case of a tie, the candidate with the smallest head-to-head loss versus all other candidates wins. Thus, the candidate closest to a Condorcet win is elected.

State Constitution Compliance

The big question, will the “smallest loss” tie breaker comply with state constitutions that require election winners to have the “largest,” “greatest,” or “highest” number of votes or a “plurality of the votes”?

Alternative Tiebreaker?

Most Wins on the Ballots - We propose an alternative to the “smallest loss” tiebreaker: elect the tied candidate with the most head-to-head victories against the other tied candidates. This method considers every head-to-head vote between tied candidates on every ballot. This might have a stronger argument for state constitution compliance.

Fair Elections

Plurality voting locks in two-party rule. Ranked Choice Voting is a big improvement; however, it is not reliable enough. Condorcet voting methods like Consensus Choice and BTR-Score are fair and reliable. Combine either with Neutral Open Primaries we will have elections fair for all candidates and parties.

As a voter, you deserve fair elections that enable you to rate or rank every candidate.