Homonym: Schulze (Clerk)
The Schulze method is a voting system used to determine the winner in elections where voters rank candidates in order of preference. It is designed to reflect the collective preferences of the electorate more accurately than traditional voting methods. The method works by comparing each pair of candidates based on voters' rankings, ultimately identifying the candidate who would win against all others in head-to-head matchups.
This method is particularly useful in situations with multiple candidates, as it helps to avoid the "spoiler effect," where a candidate can split the vote and unintentionally lead to the election of a less preferred candidate. The Schulze method is considered a form of ranked voting and is often discussed in the context of electoral reform.