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Following recent events, and a conversation with a friend, I want to talk a little about electoral systems, and how to break the partisan politics.
In this thread, we're gonna talk about Congressional elections, and electoral systems.
(Warning: another long thread)
In this thread, we're gonna talk about Congressional elections, and electoral systems.
(Warning: another long thread)
There are exceptions, but here's how congressional elections usually work in the US.
There is usually only one seat in a district.
Typically both parties nominate a candidate to run for that seat.
Other candidates can also run, but in 99% of cases, the seat goes to....
There is usually only one seat in a district.
Typically both parties nominate a candidate to run for that seat.
Other candidates can also run, but in 99% of cases, the seat goes to....
one of those two party candidates (Bernie Sanders is a notable exception)
You then vote for a single candidate from your district.
Whoever gets the most votes, wins!
This means politics inevitably divides into a football mindset.
Us vs Them. My team is good. Their team is bad.
You then vote for a single candidate from your district.
Whoever gets the most votes, wins!
This means politics inevitably divides into a football mindset.
Us vs Them. My team is good. Their team is bad.
This system, limits choice and cements a two-party system.
It essentially forces you to choose between two candidates from the main two parties (neither of whom may share your values), and doesn't allow you to choose the candidate you actually want.
It essentially forces you to choose between two candidates from the main two parties (neither of whom may share your values), and doesn't allow you to choose the candidate you actually want.
It also encourages gerrymandering to maintain majorities within these districts.
(Gerrymandering is redrawing district boundaries to make sure your party always wins. Both Rs and Ds do this).
(Gerrymandering is redrawing district boundaries to make sure your party always wins. Both Rs and Ds do this).
So, why am I talking about this?
''No taxation without representation''
The US political system is broken.
For many Americans, they aren't represented.
Their vote doesn't matter.
They can't choose their representatives.
They don't have a voice.
''No taxation without representation''
The US political system is broken.
For many Americans, they aren't represented.
Their vote doesn't matter.
They can't choose their representatives.
They don't have a voice.
But politicians don't want to fix it.
If they fix it, they lose power and influence.
That's why both parties work together, to keep third parties out.
So it's up to people to fight for electoral reform.
Gerrymandering needs to be outlawed, like it is in most countries.
If they fix it, they lose power and influence.
That's why both parties work together, to keep third parties out.
So it's up to people to fight for electoral reform.
Gerrymandering needs to be outlawed, like it is in most countries.
Looking at the US right now, everything that the founding fathers were afraid of, in regards to political parties has come to pass.
George Washington warned against the dangers of political parties in his farewell address.
George Washington warned against the dangers of political parties in his farewell address.
The second US president, John Adams, worried that “a division of the republic into two great parties … is to be dreaded as the great political evil.”
And this isnt a new thing.
This partisan hate fueled rivalry has been around for decades. It's an inevitable part of the system
And this isnt a new thing.
This partisan hate fueled rivalry has been around for decades. It's an inevitable part of the system
So how do we fix it?
First off, the two party system is a cancer, and needs to be fixed.
To begin to address the two party system, the entire electoral system needs to be changed.
First off, the two party system is a cancer, and needs to be fixed.
To begin to address the two party system, the entire electoral system needs to be changed.
So what's the alternative?
Personally, I love the Irish system:
Proportional Representation through the Single Transferable Vote (PR-STV).
Sounds complicated, but it's actually really simple, and a lot more Democratic.
Personally, I love the Irish system:
Proportional Representation through the Single Transferable Vote (PR-STV).
Sounds complicated, but it's actually really simple, and a lot more Democratic.
Here's how it works:
Similar to the US, candidates can run from any party or independently.
However, there are MULTIPLE seats in the same district, so there are multiple winners.
To get elected to one of the seats, candidates don’t need a majority.
Similar to the US, candidates can run from any party or independently.
However, there are MULTIPLE seats in the same district, so there are multiple winners.
To get elected to one of the seats, candidates don’t need a majority.
In fact, it doesn’t really matter who gets the most votes.
They just need to reach a quota (a minimum number of votes). The quota is the number of votes, divided by the number of seats plus one.
Once you reach the quota, you are deemed elected.
They just need to reach a quota (a minimum number of votes). The quota is the number of votes, divided by the number of seats plus one.
Once you reach the quota, you are deemed elected.
Example 1:
If there are 5 seats, if a candidate gets 1/6th of the votes, they are elected.
Example 2:
If there are 2 seats, and a candidate gets 1/3rd of the votes, they are elected.
If there are 5 seats, if a candidate gets 1/6th of the votes, they are elected.
Example 2:
If there are 2 seats, and a candidate gets 1/3rd of the votes, they are elected.
So I walk into my polling location, and I get to RANK my preferences. I give my favourite candidate my #1 choice, my second favourite candidate my #2 choice, and so on.
You don't need to rank ALL the candidates, but it helps ensure your vote isn't wasted.
You don't need to rank ALL the candidates, but it helps ensure your vote isn't wasted.
After voting ends, all the first preference votes are counted, and any candidate that gets more than the quota gets elected.
Now here’s where it gets good, and why there’s no such thing as a wasted vote in this system.
Now here’s where it gets good, and why there’s no such thing as a wasted vote in this system.
If all the first preference votes are counted, but there are still seats available, any excess votes given to candidates who have already met the quota get redistributed.
If the quota is 3000 votes, and candidate A gets 5000 votes, those extra 2000 votes are redistributed to the voters second choices. And if their second choice has also already been elected or eliminated (we’ll talk about that in a minute) they go to the third choice, and so on.
So, imagine we have 5 candidates and 3 seats.
Joe
John
Jane
Fred
Mary
If I give John my #1 vote, and Mary my #2 vote, but they’ve already beaten the quota, then my vote would go to my #3 vote- Jane.
Joe
John
Jane
Fred
Mary
If I give John my #1 vote, and Mary my #2 vote, but they’ve already beaten the quota, then my vote would go to my #3 vote- Jane.
But what happens if no candidate has enough first preference votes to beat the quota and get elected? Or if candidate John gets elected, but even after redistributing all the votes, no one else beats the quota?
In that case we eliminate the candidate with the least votes, and ALL their votes gets redistributed to the voters #2 preference, or #3 preference, or whatever voter preference is still eligible.
We keep doing this, until ALL the seats are filled.
We keep doing this, until ALL the seats are filled.
I can vote #1 for Vermin Supreme and my vote still counts and is important, because even if he gets eliminated, my vote will then transfer to my #2 choice.
And if my #2 choice gets eliminated or elected before my vote is counted then my vote transfers to my #3 choice, and so on.
And if my #2 choice gets eliminated or elected before my vote is counted then my vote transfers to my #3 choice, and so on.
Why is this a good thing?
Because ALL votes count, and make a difference.
No matter how ridiculous.
No matter if your first choice doesn't get elected.
There’s no such thing as a wasted vote.
It also allows smaller parties and independents to get seats.
Because ALL votes count, and make a difference.
No matter how ridiculous.
No matter if your first choice doesn't get elected.
There’s no such thing as a wasted vote.
It also allows smaller parties and independents to get seats.
Ireland currently has 3 major parties, 6 minor parties, and a large number of independents.
As a result, representation in the Dail (the House of Representatives) reflects the wide political differences and viewpoints in Irish society.
It gives everyone a political voice.
As a result, representation in the Dail (the House of Representatives) reflects the wide political differences and viewpoints in Irish society.
It gives everyone a political voice.
Is this system perfect?
Hell no. Its still politics.
Theres still fighting between parties, but nowhere close to the partisan gridlock in the US.
No party can get a majority, so they always have to compromise and form alliances.
This can lead to some very volatile governments.
Hell no. Its still politics.
Theres still fighting between parties, but nowhere close to the partisan gridlock in the US.
No party can get a majority, so they always have to compromise and form alliances.
This can lead to some very volatile governments.
But at the end of the day, it's a lot more Democratic.
Every vote matters. Everyone gets represented.
There's no such thing as a ''red state'' or a ''blue state''.
There's no such thing as a wasted vote, or a swing state.
Every vote is counted and is important.
Every vote matters. Everyone gets represented.
There's no such thing as a ''red state'' or a ''blue state''.
There's no such thing as a wasted vote, or a swing state.
Every vote is counted and is important.
In the end, unless the US moves away from a two-party system, and the inevitable tribalism and division that such a system brings, the same problems and partisan politics will remain and worsen.
But such a change will never happen without people actively fighting for it.
But such a change will never happen without people actively fighting for it.
