It is Time for Ranked Choice Voting

In this episode, we explore an idea whose time has come-ranked choice voting. Done right, it will produce better elections, better candidates and better government. Hear why.

Transcript

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Welcome back to America Structured Politics. Today we're diving into a topic that could fundamentally reshape American democracy, ranked choice voting. You've probably heard of, it may be seen at an action in recent elections, but what exactly is it? And more importantly, why should it be a standard across the country? Let's explore it to start. Imagine you're voting in an election for city mayor or a congressional seat in our current system. You go to the polls. See a list of candidates and pick the one you like the most. That's it. Your vote counts for that candidate. But what happens if your preferred candidate isn't quite enough to win? Or if that candidate is a long shot? Often voters feel their votes are wasted or that they're forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. This is the fundamental flaw. Many see in our winner. Take all electoral. System rank choice voting seeks to fix this. Instead of choosing just just one candidate, voters rank their preferences, first choice, second choice, third choice, and so forth, up to the limits set by the election. If no candidate secures a majority of first place votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. The ballots that supported the eliminated candidate. Are then redistributed to the voter's. Next choices. This process continues until one candidate emerges with more than 50% of the votes, an outright majority. So how does this improve our elections? Well, for starters, it ensures that our leaders are truly representative of when a candidate wins with a majority of votes transferred through multiple rounds. It's clear they have brought support from the electorate. No more elected officials who win with only a small plurality, often left to govern without the backing of most voters. In jurisdictions where ranked choice voting has been adopted, even just as a test, it's shown to promote more civil campaigns candidates. Vita earned second and third choice votes, which incentivizes them to appeal to a wider audience rather than attack their opponents harshly. Historically, campaigns in places such like Maine and New New York City have become less combative, focusing more on issues and policies that matter to voters than on personal attacks. Now, let's talk about diversity in elections. Our current system often discourages underrepresented groups from running because of structural barriers, high costs. Limited name recognition or fears of splitting the vote. But with rank choice voting candidates of color, women, independents and newcomers find a fair playing field. They can campaign without fearing that splitting the vote will hand victory to their opponents. As a result, elected officials better reflect the demographics and diverse perspectives of the communities they serve beyond fairness and diversity. Rank choice voting also benefits taxpayers and governments. Traditional runoff elections can be costly, sometimes running into millions of dollars and require voters to turn out twice. Rank choice voting allows the election to be decided in a single round saving money and reducing voter fatigue. It's a more efficient, cost effective way to determine winners. But what's the evidence that this system actually works? Quite a lot. It turns out Maine in Alaska, for example, have recently adopted ranked choice voting, and their experience has been overwhelmingly positive. Maine, the first state to implement at statewide has seen elections that are more representative and campaigns that are less negative voters report feeling more engaged and confident that their votes matter. And nationally, public support for rank choice voting has been increasing, especially among younger voters who want their voices heard without the distortions of strategic voting or spoiler candidates. Speaking of strategic voting, trying to gain the system by voting insincerely to prevent an undesirable candidate from winning rank choice voting mitigates this problem because voters can honestly rank candidates. Without fear of wasting their vote, they're more likely to express their true preferences. This leads to election outcomes that better reflect the genuine will of the people. Now, some critics argue that rank choice voting is too complicated or confusing, but in reality, voters adapt quickly once they understand the process. Many jurisdictions provide clear instructions and practice ballots. And the system is straightforward. Rank your candidates in order of preference. Once you do it a few times, it becomes second nature. And importantly, the benefits far outweigh the initial learning curve. Think about the broader implications. Moving to rank choice voting nationwide would weaken the duopoly of the two major parties, which often benefit from a system that discourages third party and independent candidates. From challenging, it could open the door for more diverse candidates and ideas, invigorate voter participation, and reduce the polarization that dominates many races. It's not just theory. Countries and cities around the world are already demonstrating the system's potential. Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and many countries in Europe employ some form of rank choice or similar preferential voting systems. And they often see better representation, less extreme polarization, and more coalition building. Why shouldn't the United States arguably the most influential country in the world follow suit? Let's remember that the core of democracy is fairness, making sure every vote counts, and that winners genuinely represent the preferences of the electorate. When candidates have to appeal to a broad spectrum of voters to win, it promotes consensus and cooperation instead of conflict and division in some adopting rank. Choice. Voting nationwide isn't just a reform, it's a revolution in how we think about elections. It makes voting more meaningful, campaigns more respectful and outcomes, more representative of everyone's voice. The evidence shows it. It works and the benefits are undeniable. If we want a strong or fairer democracy, it's time to embrace ra. Embrace ranked choice voting. This isn't just about fixing elections, it's about fixing our democracy. It's about building trust, fostering civility, and creating a political system that truly reflects the will of the people. The future of American democracy depends on just taking bold steps. Rank choice voting is one of those steps and it's time to make it happen. This has been America's Fractured Politics. Thanks for listening in and remember this, regardless of the system of voting we have, please vote. Thank you.