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eppur_se_muova

(37,996 posts)
7. When vote counts are done heirarchically, the process time should be O(log n), not O(n).
Wed Nov 20, 2024, 08:54 PM
Nov 20

Small batches are counted, then the totals sent for a second totaling. Those results are then sent for a third total, if need be. The time required to count depends on the number counted in each small batch, and the number of levels in the heirarchy. Increasing the number of votes several fold should add one step to the heirarchy, increasing the time by a fraction (maybe a large fraction, like 1/3 if there were three levels to begin with) but much, much less than a doubling.

Elections can be fast or accurate, but the latter is more important. The large number of ballots is not an insuperable obstacle.

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