News Instant Run-Off Voting: Is It a Good Idea?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dissident Dan
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Voting
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Instant Run-Off Voting (IRV), also known as the "Alternative Vote" or "Preferential Voting," allows voters to rank candidates, potentially preventing outcomes like the 2000 election debacle. However, it does not guarantee a candidate with a strong mandate, as evidenced by comparisons with the Condorcet method, which ensures that the most preferred candidate wins in head-to-head matchups. The discussion highlights concerns about governmental instability linked to proportional representation, particularly referencing the Israeli Knesset as an example of how minority parties can wield disproportionate power. Overall, participants advocate for systems that balance voter justice with governmental stability.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Instant Run-Off Voting (IRV) principles
  • Familiarity with the Condorcet method of voting
  • Knowledge of proportional representation systems
  • Awareness of historical electoral outcomes, particularly the 2000 U.S. presidential election
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mechanics and implications of Instant Run-Off Voting (IRV)
  • Study the Condorcet method and its advantages over IRV
  • Examine case studies of proportional representation in countries like Germany and Israel
  • Analyze the impact of minority parties on governmental stability in various electoral systems
USEFUL FOR

Political scientists, election reform advocates, and individuals interested in the dynamics of voting systems and their impact on governance.

Would you favor implementing IRV?

  • Yes

    Votes: 4 66.7%

  • No

    Votes: 2 33.3%

  • Not Sure

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    6
Dissident Dan
Messages
236
Reaction score
1
Do you think that instant run-off voting is a good idea that we should implement for governmental elections?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Come on, hardly anybody is responding.
 
Er... can you clarify what IRV is?
 
IRV? More info more info
 
http://electionmethods.org/IRVexample.htm
Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is also known as the "Alternative Vote" and "Preferential Voting." Voters rank the candidates as first, second, third, etc.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
it would've prevented the 2000 debacle but it seems kind of unsatisfying, you end up with someone who doesn't have much of a mandate.
 
If by mandate, you mean getting a majority of first preferences, then IRV doesn't create mandate problems that plurality vote doesn't.

Condorcet is superior to IRV in the case when you a have a person who, when compared one-on-one to each other candidates, is preferred each time, because sometimes that person wouldn't be elected using IRV, but always would be elected with Condorcet.

I think that either system is superior to a simple plurality.
 
I think that either system is superior to a simple plurality.

Because you focus on justice in voting. But I think that anything that empowers minority parties leads to governmental instability. Look at the Knesset in Israel. They have proportional voting in their elections and tiny little sliver parties of fanatics have enormous power to swing votes. No thanks.
 
Instability

Does proportional representation always lead to governmental instability? Even when there's a 5% (say) hurdle, such as in Germany and Turkey?

IIRC, Australia has proportional representation, as does Malaysia (and Singapore?). Neither have anything like the Israeli mess. (Of course, they have had other difficulties!)
 
  • #10
Originally posted by selfAdjoint
Because you focus on justice in voting. But I think that anything that empowers minority parties leads to governmental instability. Look at the Knesset in Israel. They have proportional voting in their elections and tiny little sliver parties of fanatics have enormous power to swing votes. No thanks.

Israel has a lot more problems than just its electoral system! Throw a bunch of Jews (historically, probably the most persecuted group) in with a bunch of Arabs in the desert, and see what you get.

Germany seems pretty stable.

I think that our government is not responsive enough to the people.
 
  • #11
If our government were more responsible to the people, it would be even worse than it is. Look at the attempts to amend the constitution each time something new comes up flag burning, 10 commandments in classrooms, gay marriage. And all of these are responsive to some group of people. Then imagine a Congress made up of interest groups from white supremacy to liberationists to Nader to five different kinds of communists. Then see if you like the results of responsiveness.

The founders knew that you had to put limits on politicians with the constitution just as you do on citizens with laws.
 
  • #12
Naw, if the country were more democratic in general there would be a lot less pain & suffering. For example, if smoking pot or some other consentual crime were left to the states to vote upon (this goes for all of the "wedge" issues), it would be socially positive, and these issues wouldn't divide the country so badly anymore.
I think that our government is not responsive enough to the people.
It's very responsive, with rubber bullets and pepper spray. No, you're right, Bush could have 100% popular disapproval and he would continue careening into wherever.
I wonder how many Democrats would vote for say Gephardt even if they were hard-core Dean supporters? Somebody could do a poll.

________________________
Nepotism -- It's Genetic
 

Similar threads

  • Poll Poll
VOTE PF Favorite Movies Poll 1 - Drama, Thriller & Action
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • Poll Poll
VOTE PF Favorite Movies Poll 2 - SF, Fantasy, Comedy & Western
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Should I Vote for the Lesser of Two Evils in the US Presidential Election?
  • · Replies 40 ·
2
Replies
40
Views
6K
News BREXIT - more good than bad or more bad than good?
  • · Replies 364 ·
13
Replies
364
Views
28K
News Voting for Experienced Leaders: Scandals, Continuity, International Affairs
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
News Alternatives to First-Past-The-Post Voting
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
14K
Why is the current voting system in the UK flawed and how can it be improved?
  • · Replies 76 ·
3
Replies
76
Views
7K
  • Poll Poll
News The 2012 presidential election poll
  • · Replies 40 ·
2
Replies
40
Views
9K
  • Poll Poll
News Who Will You Vote For? Poll Results for Americans and Non-Americans
  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
6K
News Could Splitting Votes Lead to a More Accurate Election Outcome?
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
5K