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What is Ranked Choice Voting?
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Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is an electoral system in which voters rank candidates by preference (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) rather than voting for a single candidate. If no candidate wins a majority of first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest first choices is eliminated, and votes for that candidate are transferred to voters' next choices. This process continues until a candidate earns more than 50% of the vote.
Benefits of RCV over Popular Vote or Electoral College:
- Greater voter representation: RCV ensures that the winner reflects a majority preference, which may better represent the will of the voters. It helps to prevent a candidate from winning with only a small plurality in a multi-candidate race.
- Reduces “spoiler” effect: In traditional voting systems, third-party or less popular candidates can split votes, leading to a winner that doesn’t have majority support. With RCV, voters can rank their true preference without fear of "wasting" a vote, since their secondary choices still count if their first choice is eliminated.
- Discourages negative campaigning: Candidates benefit from being ranked second or third by opponents' supporters. This can promote more civil and cooperative campaigning, as candidates seek broader appeal beyond their core base.
- Greater choice: Voters can express support for a wider range of candidates without the pressure to “strategically” choose only between the frontrunners. This allows for more diverse candidates, including independents and third-party contenders.
- Addresses gerrymandering: While RCV doesn't directly combat gerrymandering (the manipulation of district boundaries), it can make races in gerrymandered districts more competitive by ensuring winners have broader support, potentially mitigating its effects.
In conclusion, Ranked Choice Voting can offer a more representative, inclusive, and fair system of voting compared to both the popular vote and Electoral College models. However, its adoption at a national level would require considerable legal, political, and logistical changes.
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