Author: Jack

Why Alaskan RCV might survive

It has been fascinating to watch the evolving count of votes in Alaska Measure 2. This would replace jungle primaries followed by an RCV round with a ‘conventional’ system of closed primaries followed by a plurality vote. As of Election Night and the days immediately after it, Measure 2 looked to be going the same way as several other statewide measures: no RCV.1

Here is why retention in Alaska would not be very surprising despite what might seem like a ‘wave’ against this reform.

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Do anti-party reforms ironically require major-party backing?

I’m sure we will hear a lot about the RCV measures that just were on the ballot. Only in DC did one pass/cause RCV adoption (or retention).2

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Why don’t some voters rank?

I just discovered several papers on the determinants of ballot invalidity (informal voting) in Australia. Two recent conversations prompted me to look for these. The overarching issue is whether an invalid ballot reflects confusion or protest voting. You can find the papers in my reference list. The answer seems to be: both but more of the latter, especially among young people dissatisfied with the party system.

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