Chapter 13.2, Problem 36E

Citizen-initiated ballot measures often present voters with controversial issues over which they do not think alike. Here’s one your author would like to initiate:

Please rank each of the following options regarding permitting dogs on national park trails.

a. Unleashed dogs accompanied by their caregivers should be permitted on designated national park trails.

b. Leashed dogs accompanied by their caregivers should be permitted on designated national park trails.

c. No dogs should be permitted on any national park trails.

Your author was not happy with the fact that he could not take his dog running with him on the park trails at Point Reyes National Seashore. Of course, that is his issue. For this project, group members should write a ballot measure, perhaps controversial, like the sample above, but dealing with an issue of relevance to your campus and community. Rather than holding an election, use a random sample of students on your campus, administer the ballot, and have them rank their choices.

a. Use each of the four voting methods to determine the winning option for your ballot measure.

b. Check to see if any of the four fairness criteria are violated.