Methods of Election. 203 



and C. On putting this question to the issue, we find that 

 C is preferred by the electors. 



We see, then, that the French method may lead to error 

 through throwing out the best man at the first election. 

 And this is the only way in which it can err ; for if there be 

 a best man, and he survive the ordeal of the first election, 

 he must win at the second, seeing that he is, in the opinion 

 of the electors, better than each of his competitors. 



Comparing the French method with the single vote method, 

 we see that in the case of three candidates the worst 

 candidate may be returned by the single vote method, but 

 that it would be impossible for such a result to be brought 

 about by the French method. By that method we are at 

 least sure of getting the second best man, if we fail to get 

 the best. 



There is, however, a grave practical objection to this 

 method. It is that a second polling may be necessary. 

 This is of great importance ; for in the case where the 

 number of electors is large, as in a political election, great 

 expense has to be incurred, not only by the authorities in 

 providing the necessary machinery, but also by the electors 

 themselves in coming to the poll again. Besides this, the 

 excitement of the election is kept up much longer than it 

 would be if the whole matter could be settled by a single 

 polling. There can, I think, be little doubt that this objection 

 has been one of the chief obstacles with which the advocates 

 of this method have had to contend. Accordingly, we find 

 that the single vote method is employed, as a rule, in those 

 cases in which there are some hundreds of electors, and it 

 would be inconvenient to hold a second election. On the 

 other hand, when the number of electors is small, so that 

 they can all meet together, and remain till a second or 

 third election has been held, the number of candidates is 

 generally reduced to two by means of a preliminary ballot or 

 ballots. This very fact shows that the defects of the single 

 vote method are recognised, because in those cases in 

 which it is considered to be practicable to do so a pre- 

 liminary election is held, so as to try to avoid the glaring 

 defect of the single vote method — that is, to avoid returning 

 a candidate who is acceptable to a small section only of 

 the electors. It is a mistake, however, to suppose that it is 

 not practicable to hold one or more preliminary elections 

 when the number of electors is large. It is generally 

 thought that in order to do so a fresh set of voting papers 



