Cooperative phenomena in crystals and the probability of tied Borda count elections (Q1613352)

The author derives an alternative formula for the number of \(n\)-step closed paths on a triangular lattice, and corrects the formula published by C. Domb [On the theory of cooperative phenomena in crystals. Adv. Phys. 9, 149--361 (1960)], where apparently a factor \(l!\) emerged from typesetting as \(1\). Modelling voter (strict) rankings of three candidates by the edges of the lattice, the author notes that a Borda tie corresponds to a closed path and so is able to use the formula to determine the probabilities that a vote of \(l\) voters results in a tie under Borda count.