And, keep in mind that we need to ask: is this multi-round knock-out process actually easier to implement than just condorcet?
I think you make an excellent observation that in D vs R federal elections the knockout approach is almost always gonna get you to condorcet.*
But in single party democracies, like NYC we shouldn't expect that.
*and, I have a vague feeling that you over-focus on federal D vs R when a lot of the daily experience in places like NYC is in the hands of state and local office holders - consider the current congestion charge battle ...
Edited to add: Actually, I don't think I believe that condorcet thing about federal elections either. I think if we had a ranked choice general election then a moderate candidate could easily win by being everyone's second choice. Consider, for example, a Trump / Biden / Liz Cheney election.
And, keep in mind that we need to ask: is this multi-round knock-out process actually easier to implement than just condorcet?
I think you make an excellent observation that in D vs R federal elections the knockout approach is almost always gonna get you to condorcet.*
But in single party democracies, like NYC we shouldn't expect that.
*and, I have a vague feeling that you over-focus on federal D vs R when a lot of the daily experience in places like NYC is in the hands of state and local office holders - consider the current congestion charge battle ...
Edited to add: Actually, I don't think I believe that condorcet thing about federal elections either. I think if we had a ranked choice general election then a moderate candidate could easily win by being everyone's second choice. Consider, for example, a Trump / Biden / Liz Cheney election.