Ranked Choice Voting - Fair, Equitable, Legal and Constitutional
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Soapbox
HollyJollyHanukka — 9 months ago(June 13, 2025 10:23 PM)
Currently, our elections deprive voters of meaningful choices, create increasingly toxic campaign cycles, advance candidates who lack broad support, and leave voters feeling like our voices are not heard. Ranked choice voting is the solution.
Ranked choice voting (RCV) — also known as instant runoff voting (IRV) — makes our elections better by allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference.
RCV is straightforward: Voters have the option to rank candidates in order of preference: first, second, third and so forth. If your first choice doesn’t have a chance to win, your ballot counts for your next choice.
RCV works in all types of elections and supports more representative outcomes. RCV means better choices, better campaigns, and better representation.
RCV reduces problems like vote-splitting, so-called “spoiler” candidates and unrepresentative outcomes that can arise when more than two candidates run for a single position.
With RCV, voters can sincerely rank candidates in order of preference. Voters know that if their first choice doesn’t win, their vote automatically counts for their next choice instead. This frees voters from worrying about how others will vote and which candidates are more or less likely to win.
Candidates can compete without fear of splitting the vote with like-minded individuals
Each vote is precious and should count to the full extent possible. RCV yields election outcomes that better represent voter preferences. Winners elected with RCV have majority support and truly represent their communities – meaning a stronger mandate to govern, or stronger nominees in primary elections.
Candidates who win a majority in primary elections go on to perform better in general elections.
With RCV, candidates also compete for second-choice support from their opponents’ supporters, which lessens the incentive to run negative campaigns. In RCV contests, candidates do best when they reach out positively to as many voters as possible, including those supporting their opponents.
RCV is a faster, cheaper, and better alternative to expensive preliminary elections and runoffs. With RCV, jurisdictions reap the benefits of two rounds of voting in a single, more representative, higher-turnout election. This is why RCV is also known as “instant runoff voting.”
With RCV ballots, military and overseas voters can rank candidates on a single ballot. If a runoff occurs, or if candidates drop out of a presidential contest, the ranked ballot is counted for whichever candidate in the runoff is ranked highest.
RCV makes it easier for women and candidates of color to run for office and win. With RCV, candidates aren’t pressured to wait their turn, nor are they perceived as “spoilers.”
Research finds that candidates of color are more likely to win RCV elections, particularly in races featuring multiple candidates of color. Voters of color also tend to rank more candidates than White voters.
If you can’t say something nice, say something clever but devastating. -
HollyJollyHanukka — 9 months ago(June 14, 2025 01:34 AM)
Bump so idiots can read and be educated. If they don’t get it, it confirms they are morons who will never rise from the primordial ooze.
If you can’t say something nice, say something clever but devastating. -
HollyJollyHanukka — 9 months ago(June 14, 2025 03:04 AM)
The convicted felon would not have stood a chance.
RCV is legal and Constitutional. There are some very stupid people who don’t understand the concept or why it is legal.
If you can’t say something nice, say something clever but devastating.
