Elections For Voters Instead of Parties
The Practicality of Ranked Choice Voting
I don’t know about you but I’m tired of hearing the Big Orange Baby cry over having lost the last presidential election. I think maybe we should at least take a peek at something that just might prevent sore losers from dominating the national stage for years after an election loss. There is an easier way to voice our political opinion without being limited to a choice between the lesser of two evils. With our current stalemate of politics, this feeling likely resonates with many people. However, ranked-choice voting could be the answer we are all looking for.
Ranked-choice voting appears to be a fair and easy system where voters can pick their top choices from any number of candidates — not just those belonging to one party or the other. This simple yet powerful concept can provide diversity and engagement in national elections, giving individuals more freedom than before when it comes to casting their ballot. Ranked-choice voting works. Here’s how it could lead us out of our divisive times by encouraging more participation across both Republican and Democratic parties, as well as giving Independents a meaningful voice in the election process.
I suspect we are all up to here with the political gridlock that can leave such a dissonant ring to all things politics. It seems like everyone from Margie to Jamie, to Kevin to Joe is all standing firm on their beliefs with no intention of compromise. If these dummies keep this course we’re all going to lose economically and then the dummies will be replaced with more dummies. That’s where ranked-choice voting could reduce the rash of dummies. This system is designed to give voters more control over who they want to represent them without having to succumb to a two-party system. It allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, guaranteeing that whoever is elected has the majority of the support of the voters in his or her voting districts. This practical approach to politics could be just what we need to break the deadlock and move towards a more functional democracy. It certainly is worth considering.
A simple example shows how ranked voting works. Let’s say that out in San Antonio, four candidates are running for the office of the city tax collector: Jose, Jos B, Maria Guadalupe, and Guadalupe D. Each voter ranks the four candidates from first choice to fourth choice. When the votes are counted, no one gets 51% of the vote. If the person receiving the fewest votes is Jos B, then his votes are reallocated (based on who his voters listed as their second choice) to the three remaining candidates. If after this redistribution none of the remaining candidates has reached 51% of the votes, then the votes of the person receiving the fewest votes are similarly redistributed. For example, if Guadalupe D received the fewest votes, we would award each of her votes to Jos B or Maria Guadalupe depending on who was ranked higher by each voter. At this point, when the votes are tallied, either Jos B or Marie Guadalupe will have 51% of the total vote.
When it comes to our current voting system, there’s no denying that things could be better. That’s why the benefits of ranked-choice voting have been coming more and more into focus. This system allows voters to rank their candidates in order of preference, rather than simply picking one candidate. It is not a perfect system because the 2016 Republican presidential primary was an example of what ranked choice should overcome. In lieu of “winner takes all,” the voter chooses which candidates he or she is interested in holding the office in question in order of preference. Not only does this provide a more accurate picture of what voters want, but it also ensures that winners have broad support from the electorate. Plus, because voters aren’t forced to choose between the perennial lesser evil of two lackluster candidates, they’re more likely to feel positive about the candidates they’re voting for, leading to greater satisfaction with the overall process. Put simply, ranked-choice voting just makes sense — and it could be a game-changer for the future of the country. And might even be a good substitute for Margie’s divorce proposal.
I don’t know of any election where someone doesn’t feel frustrated with the options available in any given election. Ranked-choice voting presents a compelling solution for creating more candidates who represent the will of the people who vote for them. Allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference ensures that the winning candidate truly represents the majority of voters. With ranked-choice voting, we can encourage more candidates to run, knowing that they won’t split the vote and harm one another’s chances. This practical approach to politics gives us hope for a future where diversity of thought and ideas is celebrated, and every voice is heard loud and clear.
When it comes to understanding how ranked-choice voting works, sometimes it’s better to look outside our own borders. Countries like Australia and Ireland have been using this system for years, and seeing it in action can really help us grasp its benefits. Take Australia, for example. They’ve been using ranked-choice voting since the 1920s, and it’s become a fundamental part of their democracy. By assigning preferences to candidates, they’ve eliminated the need for costly run-off elections and given voters a greater say in who gets elected. It may seem complicated at first, but seeing how it works in the real world can make all the difference.
Implementing ranked-choice voting at home might seem overwhelming, but it’s actually pretty simple. If someone knows how it works and why it’s important, it wouldn’t be hard for them to let their representatives know how they think about the issue. You probably know your local government officials and they might just be looking for a way out of a mess like the Lady of the Lake out there in Arizona made. I don’t think anyone is too keen on that as a recurring event of election cycles. I kind of think that it makes sense to keep advocating for a practical voting process that reduces the chance of arguments until that process becomes a reality in your community. Implementing ranked-choice voting might take time and effort but it could be well worth it.
If there’s one thing that’s certain in life, it’s that change is inevitable. And when it comes to our political system, it’s clear that change is desperately needed. The good book says that a house divided against itself can not stand. The two-party system pits one candidate against another in a winner take all contest. Ranked choice allows for and addresses a situation where no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes. Ranked-choice voting pretty much requires candidates to appeal to a broader range of voters and reduces those candidates who try to appeal to the extremes. It’s a practical solution that can make a real difference in our political dialogue.
I understand it is nearly impossible for a majority of Americans to agree about anything but perhaps there is a chance we can agree to find a better way to express what we disagree about. I can not understand how a system that is inherently dichotometric can promote solutions to complicated problems. Who knows? The Rocky Mountain way may well be better than the way we have.
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