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

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In summary, IRV is a voting system that is more fair than plurality voting, but it has been criticized for creating instability in government.

Would you favor implementing IRV?

  • Yes

    Votes: 4 66.7%
  • No

    Votes: 2 33.3%
  • Not Sure

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    6
  • #1
Dissident Dan
238
2
Do you think that instant run-off voting is a good idea that we should implement for governmental elections?
 
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  • #2
Come on, hardly anybody is responding.
 
  • #3
Er... can you clarify what IRV is?
 
  • #4
IRV? More info more info
 
  • #5
http://electionmethods.org/IRVexample.htm [Broken]
Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is also known as the "Alternative Vote" and "Preferential Voting." Voters rank the candidates as first, second, third, etc.
 
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  • #6
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.
 
  • #7
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.
 
  • #8
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.
 
  • #9
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
 

What is Instant Run-Off Voting (IRV)?

Instant Run-Off Voting is a voting method where voters rank candidates in order of preference. In each round of counting, the candidate with the least number of first-place votes is eliminated, and those votes are redistributed to the voters' second choices. This process continues until one candidate receives a majority of the votes.

What are the benefits of using IRV?

IRV promotes majority rule by ensuring that the winning candidate has the support of a majority of voters. It also allows voters to express their true preferences without worrying about strategic voting. Additionally, it can save time and money by eliminating the need for a separate run-off election.

What are the potential drawbacks of IRV?

One potential drawback of IRV is that it can be more complicated for voters to understand and use compared to other voting methods. It also may not always result in the most preferred candidate winning, as the final result can be influenced by the order in which candidates are eliminated.

Has IRV been used in any real elections?

Yes, IRV has been used in several countries, including Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. It has also been used in local elections in the United States, such as in San Francisco and Oakland, California.

Is IRV a good idea for all types of elections?

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to voting methods, and whether IRV is a good idea for a specific election depends on various factors, such as the number of candidates and the preferences of the voters. It is important to carefully evaluate and consider all options before deciding on a voting method for a particular election.

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