Ranked choice voting is starting to spread, and few things could help our country more, and more easily https://t.co/zV7DajRdtG— Bill McKibben (@billmckibben) April 15, 2020
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
How to keep your green vote from turning red
Wouldn't it be nice if you could vote your conscience without throwing your vote away, and without giving de facto support to the candidate you like least? An "easily doable" electoral reform whose time has come (along with @home voting):
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Yeah, this is an interesting idea!
ReplyDeleteA quick check for criticisms of rank-choice voting raised some counter-points: voter confusion and the failure of winning candidates to earn a majority of all votes cast.
The worry about voter confusion, e.g. people choosing the same candidate for multiple places, which might result in a discounted ballot, seems like it could be addressed not simply through voter education but also technology. I do wonder, though, if it is the case that rank-choice voting is inherently more difficult to understand and do than "one person, one vote" and, therefore, it shouldn't be done.
As for the contention that rank-choice elections result in winning candidates not receiving a majority of the votes cast, well, the notion of "true majority" support breaks down when we consider voter turnout vs. voter eligibility numbers. What do you think?
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/dont-be-fooled-by-ranked-choice-voting
Well, "winning candidates not receiving a majority of the votes cast" is already an issue -- at least in presidential elections. But it seems to me a plurality of ranked votes is more impressive than a majority of up-or-downs. In any event, EVERY vote would count for something in a ranked choice system, whereas the present system discounts all but those ballots cast major party candidates, and in the winner-take-all presidential electoral system all are discounted but those cast for the majority. Something more like a parliamentary system, requiring cooperation and collaboration with multiple parties, is far more democratic.
DeleteAs for voter confusion, there would undoubtedly be a period of transition and adjustment to the new system but I predict we'd learn to love it. Or at least not hate it, as many of us have learned to hate the electoral status quo.
Yes, I very much like the sound and look of the parliamentary system.
DeleteThat's a great point about how presidential elections work with the popular vote vs. electoral college. That proved to be especially relevant in 2016!
I'd like for this to be implemented, I've had many family members ask me who Im voting for and if its ever someone not a part of the two main parties, then I'm ALWAYS told that I'm just throwing away my vote and scoffed at.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Jamil brings up a lot of good points.
Yeah, I've at least felt that way before, Crystal. Sometimes I stood my ground and voted in a way that was truer to my principles. Other times I made a more pragmatic choice. It'd be nice if that wasn't a worry at the ballot box.
DeleteI think this will put in place a real democracy and the president elected from this will really be for the people because they were voted in by the people.
ReplyDelete