Consensus - Voting Algorithms

Ranked Choice Voting (RCV)

  • How it Works: Voters rank candidates or options in order of preference (e.g., 1 for top choice, 2 for second choice, etc.).
  • Counting Process:
    1. First Choice Count: All votes are initially counted for each voter’s top choice.
    2. Elimination Rounds: If no option receives a majority (over 50%), the option with the fewest votes is eliminated.
    3. Redistribution: Votes for the eliminated option are redistributed to the next ranked choice on each ballot.
    4. Repeat: This process continues until one option secures a majority.
  • Benefits for Canuckduck: RCV ensures that the final winner has broad support across voters, as it considers multiple levels of preference and redistributes votes until a clear majority emerges.

2. Borda Count

  • How it Works: In the Borda Count, voters rank options, and each rank is assigned a specific point value. For instance:
    • If there are five options, the top-ranked choice might receive 5 points, the second choice 4 points, and so on.
  • Counting Process:
    1. Point Allocation: Each option receives points based on its rank on each voter’s ballot.
    2. Total Points Calculation: The points for each option are summed across all ballots.
    3. Highest Points Wins: The option with the highest total points is declared the winner.
  • Benefits for Canuckduck: Borda Count reflects a more nuanced overall preference of the community, as it considers the full spectrum of preferences rather than focusing solely on majority support.

Implementation in Consensus

To integrate these algorithms with Consensus on Hedera Hashgraph:

  1. Collect Preference Data: Users submit their ranked choices, either directly recorded on Hedera or stored in Canuckduck’s database and later posted on Hedera for auditability.
  2. Algorithm Execution: Run the chosen algorithm (RCV or Borda Count) on Canuckduck’s server, processing the ranked preferences and calculating the final result.
  3. Store Results on Hedera: Once the final vote metrics are calculated, record the summary on Hedera as a permanent, transparent record.