The write-up you mention was also posted to LJ (http://katsudon.livejournal.com/888410.html).
On the dead-heat for last place scenario - if it happens this time, you go by whatever the currently-agreed rules say, and from your description, this means eliminating both last-place candidates. However, I can think of a couple possible (and incompatible) ways of tie-breaking that do seem to be more or less in the spirit of IRV:
- Postpone the next count for the moment, and do a re-count, using all votes, between just the last-place candidates. Assuming that there is not another tie, eliminate the candidate who now comes last and proceed to the next count. - The quantum version: carry out all versions of the next count in which just one of the last-place candidates has been eliminated. Collapse to the version in which most transfers have gone to the other last-place candidates and continue.
There may be others.
By the way, what happens under the current rules if all candidates tie on any ballot?
no subject
On the dead-heat for last place scenario - if it happens this time, you go by whatever the currently-agreed rules say, and from your description, this means eliminating both last-place candidates. However, I can think of a couple possible (and incompatible) ways of tie-breaking that do seem to be more or less in the spirit of IRV:
- Postpone the next count for the moment, and do a re-count, using all votes, between just the last-place candidates. Assuming that there is not another tie, eliminate the candidate who now comes last and proceed to the next count.
- The quantum version: carry out all versions of the next count in which just one of the last-place candidates has been eliminated. Collapse to the version in which most transfers have gone to the other last-place candidates and continue.
There may be others.
By the way, what happens under the current rules if all candidates tie on any ballot?