The initial set of \(3\) motions presented to the voters are simply the ideal locations for the first \(3\) voters. The choices for the electorates are to:

• Cycle elections : Randomly generate \(100\) voter location preferences and \(3\) initial motions using a constrained uniform distribution such that each motion is preferred by \(60\) voters over one of the other two, forming a cycle.
• Uniform electorate : Randomly generate \(100\) voters with \(3\) initial motions using an unconstrained uniform distribution.
• Normal electorate : Randomly generate \(100\) voters with \(3\) initial motions using an unconstrained normal distribution.
• Hide voters : This button toggles the visibility of the voters, which is useful for two distinct reasons. First, because voters cannot be selected when they are not visible, hiding the voters can make it easier to select and position new motions. Second, in any real election the voter positions are never known: hiding them means you

New motions cannot be added before the initial approval vote, but they can be re-positioned, possibly breaking the cycle. New motions can be added later in the process, whenever the focus motion is a repeat. New motion locations can be adjusted prior to a round, and are fixed in location by the next vote.

The voter behavior in this explorable is fairly unsophisticated, a choice I made to look at the worst case scenario, and to get users used to elections that take time. Voters will initially vote for any motion closer than \(20 %\) of the distance to the furthest motion, and will vote to stop the process with the then current focus as the final winner when the approval threshold (that \(20 %\) figure), expands to include that focus. The threshold expands by \(1 %\) every time the focus is a repeat.

If no motions are added, this simulation can run for \(70+\) rounds. (A later simulation adds a bit more sophistication to the voters in order to converge more quickly on the final result.)

It is also possible to zoom or pan the display and to toggle the visibility of the voter ideals. Voter ideals (other than their own) would not normally be available to voters. However, it is very useful to have them available to view when exploring the simulation.