In 14 minutes and 39 seconds,
CHICKEN DILEMMA SOLUTION - - Can't you just use a Ranked Choice Ballot and require that everyone Rank ALL Candidates, and then count them with the Approval tally system (and simply remove the bottom half of each ballot)? In other words, all candidates must be ranked one every single ballot, otherwise the individual ballot is thrown out. And then whoever gets ranked in last place simply doesn't get counted (or if there are a large number of candidates, perhaps only the top 3 or top 4 candidates are counted according to the Approval Method).