1.7.4

June 22, 2016

• Revised algorithms to use for ranked vote tallying.

A bunch of research and testing was done through over a dozen different methodologies. Settled on Ranked Instant Runoff as the standard default, while also adding in the ability to cross-check the results against a simple scoring method (Wilson), a Condorcet method (Schulze), and an improved version of the old Coombs' method (Baldwin).

The type of algorithm to use can be changed under Global Options. However this value will not be saved to the config, as it's not desirable to allow different people to default to different tallying methods without explicitly deciding to do so.

There will always be arguments against the currently chosen default. Every voting method has multiple, sometimes extremely problematic issues. The one that was chosen seemed to balance out the best properties of those available, for the context of quest voting. It also allows a bit of flexibility in going to score voting (giving each option an independent score, rather than a sequential rank), should anyone want to experiment in that area.

Minor note: The program files are larger because they still contain all the unused algorithms. Those algorithms may be removed entirely at a later time, but are left in for now in order to be easy to bring back into play if further testing is needed.