Center squeeze (RCV-IRV) — minimal 27-voter case (the moderate is eliminated)¶
Generated from center_squeeze_irv.yaml — do not edit by hand. Regenerate: python STARVote_LH_tabulation_engine/tools_adam/scripts/build_yaml_pages.py.
Method: RCV-IRV (Instant Runoff) · 1 seat · Expected winner: Left
Scenario¶
The minimal center-squeeze electorate, counted by RCV-IRV: 27 voters on a 1-D spectrum. Center is every faction's acceptable second choice and beats either pole head-to-head — but holds the FEWEST first choices (6), is eliminated in round one, and polar Left wins. The matched file center_squeeze_star.yaml scores the same profile 0-5 and elects Center. See center_squeeze_voteline_1d.yaml for the spectrum picture and the center-squeeze topic hub for the cross-method view.
Ballots¶
Each row is one voter's ranking, most-preferred first (N: prefix = N identical ballots).
12:Left>Center>Right
9:Right>Center>Left
6:Center>Left>Right
What the engine says¶

Where the votes went. Band thickness is votes; a band leaving an eliminated candidate lands on whoever that ballot ranked next, or on inactive if it ranked nobody who was left.
The count, step by step — the rounds and how the winner is reached:
--- RCV / Instant-Runoff Voting (single winner) ---
Center squeeze (RCV-IRV) — minimal 27-voter case (the moderate is eliminated)
Tabulating 27 ballots (ranked ballots).
ROUND 1
Candidate Votes Status
----------- ------- --------
Left 12 Hopeful
Right 9 Hopeful
Center 6 Rejected
FINAL RESULT
Candidate Votes Status
----------- ------- --------
Left 18 Elected
Right 9 Rejected
Center 0 Rejected
Winner(s) — RCV / Instant-Runoff Voting (single winner)
Left
Full audit — preference matrix, Condorcet, and score distribution¶
--- Smith Set (the generalized Condorcet winner) ---
The smallest group whose every member beats every candidate outside it —
the honest answer to "who is even in contention?".
Smith set (1 of 3): Center
Outside (2): Left, Right
One member ⇒ Center is the Condorcet winner, beating every rival head-to-head.
RCV-IRV winner Left is OUTSIDE the Smith set. ✗
Every member of the set (Center) beats Left head-to-head, yet
RCV-IRV elected Left anyway. RCV-IRV is not Smith-efficient (nor
Condorcet-efficient) — this is the shape a center squeeze leaves behind.
More: 07_Concepts/topics/smith_set.md
Everything in one file: the _tabulated mirror (regenerated on every run; every analysis forced on).
Run it yourself:
python STARVote_LH_tabulation_engine/starvote_larry_hastings.py method_comparisons/center_squeeze/cases/center_squeeze_irv.yaml
See also¶
More cases in this set: center_squeeze_star · center_squeeze_voteline_1d