Rank Choice Voting Law in US Politics
Rank choice voting (RCV), also known as instant-runoff voting, is a voting method that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and voters who preferred that candidate have their votes transferred to their next choice. This process continues until a candidate has a majority of votes.
RCV is used in many countries, including Australia and Ireland, and several cities in the United States, such as San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Portland.
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RCV is seen as a threat to the political party duopoly because it can lead to the election of candidates who are not affiliated with either of the two major parties. This is because RCV allows for a more nuanced expression of voters' preferences, and encourages candidates to appeal to a wider range of voters, rather than just their base.
If RCV were to become the standard in the US, it is likely that we would see a shift away from polarized, two-party politics, and toward a more representative and diverse political landscape. The average citizen could benefit from this change by having a greater variety of political options, and the ability to express their preferences more accurately.
To promote support for RCV, advocacy groups and organizations can educate the public on the benefits of RCV, and engage in grassroots campaigns to build support for the reform. Additionally, supporters can work with elected officials and political leaders to build legislative support for RCV, and to encourage the adoption of RCV in jurisdictions across the country.
To learn more about the two-party system in the US and how ranked choice voting can limit their power, you can consider the following resources:
Websites of organizations advocating for ranked choice voting: Organizations such as FairVote and the Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center provide information and analysis on the benefits of ranked choice voting and efforts to implement it nationwide.
Academic journals and research papers: Scholars and experts in the fields of political science and elections often write articles and research papers about the effects of ranked choice voting on political parties and elections. You can find these by searching for "ranked choice voting" or "single transferable vote" in academic journals or databases such as JSTOR or Google Scholar.
Books: There are few books that cover the two-party system in the US and how ranked choice voting can be a solution. Some popular choices are
"The Politics Industry: How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy" by Katherine Gehl and Michael Porter, "Winning the Vote: The Triumph of the American Voter" by Robert W. Mutch, "The Trouble with the Electoral College" by George C. Edwards III, and "More Democracy, Less Duopoly: How Ranked Choice Voting Can Break the Two-Party Stranglehold and Save Our Political System" by Jason McDaniel and Ryan Richards,
News articles: News articles by journalists who cover politics and elections can provide insight into current debates and efforts to implement ranked choice voting in the US.
To help make ranked choice voting a reality, you can consider supporting organizations that advocate for electoral reforms, including ranked choice voting. Some examples include FairVote, the Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center, and the Institute for Political Innovation.
You can also get involved by contacting your elected representatives and expressing your support for ranked choice voting, and by participating in political campaigns and advocacy efforts to promote electoral reforms and greater representation for voters. Additionally, you can educate others about the benefits of ranked choice voting and encourage them to get involved in efforts to implement it.