What does "Condorcet Criterion" mean?

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The Condorcet Criterion is a way to judge voting systems based on how they handle preferences. A voting method satisfies this criterion if it can identify the candidate who would win in a head-to-head match against each of the other candidates. In simpler terms, if there is one candidate who is preferred over all others in direct comparisons, that candidate should be the overall winner of the election.

This criterion helps ensure that the choice reflects the true preferences of voters. If a voting system does not meet this requirement, it may lead to outcomes that do not accurately represent the majority's wishes.