The United States is unique among democracies for the durability of its two-party system. Why in this context does electoral “reform” ever succeed?
Continue reading “Dynamics of voting-system change in America, part 1”
Category: Politics
Partisan dynamics behind ranked choice voting
Maine voters will decide in November whether to use the alternative vote (AV) for single-winner elections. AV lets voters rank candidates. If no candidate has an outright majority, voters’ lower rankings come into play. Many now call this “single-winner ranked choice voting.” Why does AV have traction? If it wins, how long can we expect it to last?
Continue reading “Partisan dynamics behind ranked choice voting”
STV as proportional representation
Is the single transferable vote a form of proportional representation? Right now I believe it is. A reviewer once said the fight had been won. Either way, this issue stops some of my talks dead in their tracks. Some are bothered that PR might coexist with candidate-based ballots.