voting paradox

n. If a vote of preference is held with three choices, x, y, and z with three voters, suppose one person has a preference for x, y, and z in that order; the second voter chooses z, y, and x in that order; and the third voter chooses y, z, and x in that order. Then x is preferred by two to one to y, y is preferred by two to one to z, and z is preferred by two to one to x. Also called Condorcet’s paradox.