Is Ranked Choice Voting the Answer?
Bubba
12 Sep
With debates about the American electoral system raging, ranked choice voting proposals are on the ballot in a number of states this year. (Politico)
What does it do: Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, and if no one gets a majority of first-choice votes, the lowest-ranked candidate is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed until one candidate has a majority.
Advocates of ranked choice voting say it reduces polarization by allowing voters to rank candidates, leading to a broader consensus and less extreme winners.
Where it’s happening: Ranked choice voting could soon be adopted in Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, D.C.
Alaska voters will decide whether to repeal ranked choice voting, while Missouri will vote on a measure to ban it.
Arizona and Montana have proposals that could lead to the system’s use in future elections.
The data: Some studies have found that ranked choice voting has the opposite of its intended effect, electing more extreme candidates, especially in places where electorates are more polarized.
Related: Other states are weighing proposals to explicitly ban noncitizens from voting in federal elections.
More than a dozen municipalities allow noncitizens to vote in local elections.
However, federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections.
House Speaker Mike Johnson in May: “We all know, intuitively, that a lot of illegals are voting in federal elections.”
Big picture: Both sides are pretty unhappy with the state of elections.
Democrats grumble about the supposed unfairness of the Electoral College, sometimes arguing for its abolishment.
While Republicans are more likely to complain about voter fraud, it’s not like Dems haven’t also engaged in election denialism.
Bubba’s Two Cents
Sweeping changes to voting laws have eroded trust in elections, with most Americans already expressing doubts even before Donald Trump’s 2020 loss.
Given the current instability in the electoral system, introducing something more complex like ranked choice voting risks adding confusion and fueling skepticism. Plus, RCV has a shaky track record in delivering on its promises.