Sorting vector objects with accessor - c++

Question

This is part of a C++ program based on the Alternative Vote electoral method, using VS2015. I have a class for Party
#pragma once
#ifndef _PARTY_H
#define _PARTY_H
#include <string>
class Party {
public:
Party();
~Party();
Party(std::string n, int pos);
void reset();
void upTotal();
int getPosition();
std::string getName();
int getVotes();
private:
std::string name;
int votes;
int position;
};
#endif
and
#include <iostream>
#include "Party.h"
using namespace std;
Party::Party() {}
Party::~Party() {}
Party::Party(string n, int p) {
name = n;
position = p;
}
void Party::reset() {
votes = 0;
}
void Party::upTotal() {
votes += 1;
}
int Party::getPosition() {
return position;
}
string Party::getName() {
return name;
};
int Party::getVotes() {
return votes;
}
I tried to sort on votes received using (calculated from ballot papers elsewhere in the program
void sortParties() {
sort(parties.begin(), parties.end(), [](const auto& a, const auto& b)
{
return a.getVotes() < b.getVotes();
});
}
which returned illegal operand errors. Moving the variables from private to public and writing the following did work
void sortParties() {
sort(parties.begin(), parties.end(), [](const auto& a, const auto& b)
{
return a.votes < b.votes;
});
}
which gets it working, but I want to write it with proper encapsulation using private variables and an accessor for votes. Do I need to overload somehow, or convert type?

Answer 1

You have the following functions defined:
int getPosition();
std::string getName();
int getVotes();
They should probably all be const; ie
int getPosition() const;
std::string getName() const;
int getVotes() const;
This will allow you to call the functions from your const object at
sort(parties.begin(), parties.end(), [](const auto& a, const auto& b)