Crossword Help Forum
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Since we're voting for clues, not people, breaking ties by looking at a third clue makes no sense. I suggested this scoring method, way back when, on the assumption that people would actually express a preference by voting 3/2/1 for their top 3, thus making first place votes clear. But, if people split their vote 6 ways, they are not really expressing a strong preference for any of them. Hence a tie-breaker based on a strongly expressed preference (a solo first place vote) seemed reasonable. On the other hand, ties are so rare that the setter can make up any rule they want and no one will be the worse for wear.

Congrats to mattrom , thanks stm and voters.

Thanks to all who voted for the nose job, and to Buddy for the explanation. Commiserations and congratulations to Jono for his excellent clue.
Chapeau! to StMichel for the challenge, the accounting duties, negotiating the system, and my prizes.
I don't think that the rules were meant to be set in stone. Perhaps the host could adjust them if he/she has a strong preference? I'd tend to favour the clue receiving votes from the most people. Ultimately I'm happy to have a "get out of jail" card, so I don't have to make a "captain's pick". These are notoriously unpopular (in Australian politics, at least).
Cheers till next week.

We’ve often thought that splitting votes across 6 clues is a bit of a cop out and can be used as a tactical voting ploy. We often don’t want to use all 6 votes, indeed on a couple of occasions we’d just rather have used perhaps 2 or 3 votes or even abstained - bit like voting “ none of the above” in a general election, which we’ve been tempted to write.

SS, I don’t believe the preamble states you have to use all six of your votes. If you wish to withhold some (or all), you can just say so.

Perhaps the preamble should state…

“Weekend rules: each entrant has up to six votes to allocate…”

Why withhold votes? If you only have 2 clues you like, vote them 5-1 or 4-2. Nothing stops you from giving all 6 to one clue, for that matter.

Jono, Buddy,

Thanks for your thoughts on the voting issue.
Should we ask the rest of the Forum for their preferred options do you think?

C&S

I agree with buddy - I have sometimes considered giving six votes to one clue.

For ties, on Peer Review they are decided by the setter. I think that should work for WPR too. The "most first places" seems a bit artificial.

At least a couple of times I’ve broken a tie by considering votes a cluer got for a different entry. I trust that nobody was unduly traumatized.

Personally I like the 'Buddy' voting system for WPR. If there is a tie the setter should pick the winner - I try to avoid unnecessary complication!