Some Thoughts on the Voting Process (Author Abstract‪)‬

Introduction In teaching graduate programs in public choice, many professors adopt the Mueller [2003] textbook. Mueller [2003, pp. 148-179] devotes considerable space to a description of various methods of voting which have been either used or at least been proposed. (1) Mueller writes lucidly, and most graduate students have no difficulty following his descriptions. He is relatively neutral in discussing the simple alternative voting methods [Mueller, pp. 147-157]. When it comes to the more complicated voting systems [Mueller, pp. 159-179], he exhibits greater enthusiasm. Not surprisingly, 'voting by veto,' which is his 'invention/creation,' is given a very positive evaluation. The concept of 'demand revelation' also gets good marks. From his list, it is obvious that there are several different meanings of democracy, and each of these different meanings would yield somewhat different outcomes after the people have voted.