Ranked choice is 'the hot reform' in democracy. Here's what you should know
Roughly 50 American jurisdictions have adopted ranked choice voting, aiming to reduce toxicity, offer diverse ideas, and promote moderation. Alaska and Maine showcase benefits, but critics fear bias and confusion. Momentum grows with Nevada and Oregon considering adoption.
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Roughly 50 American voting jurisdictions have adopted ranked choice voting, with potential expansion in 2024. Advocates believe it can reduce political toxicity and offer a broader range of ideas, while skeptics fear increased voter confusion. Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank candidates, promoting moderation and diverse viewpoints. Alaska and Maine have successfully implemented this system, showcasing its benefits. However, some conservative groups argue it could favor left-leaning politicians and complicate the voting process. Critics question whether ranked choice voting truly reduces polarization or enhances democracy. While some experts remain cautious about its transformative potential, others highlight disparities in voter participation based on race and education. Despite resistance in some states, the momentum for ranked choice voting is growing, with Nevada and Oregon considering its adoption. The debate continues on whether this voting method truly addresses the challenges facing American democracy.
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5 commentsI think ranked choice is theoretically good, but it's relatively complicated, and complexity can lead to confusion which provides an opening for unscrupulous candidates (seems to be a much bigger problem than it used to be) to claim the results are illegitimate.
Approval voting is dead simple and seems to solve the same problem. I think it would be a lot harder to argue against approval voting.
The way forward is sortition. Not randomly selecting people directly to office mind you, but convening deliberative citizens assemblies to directly weigh in on issues and even potentially to appoint officials to govern. There is a rising movement to implement such reforms that has started to gain a foothold in Ireland, France and Belgium.
Those who want to know more should look into the Sortition Foundation and DemocracyNext.
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