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Watch Out For 'Rank Choice Voting'

You will not believe what “reformers” have devised to tinker with and manipulate our elections. It is called ranked choice voting (or “instant runoff voting”)—but it is really a scheme to disconnect elections from issues and allow candidates with marginal support from voters to win elections. Some jurisdictions in the U.S. have already replaced traditional elections with the ranked choice scheme.

Here is how it works. In 2008, instead of choosing to cast your ballot for John McCain, Barack Obama, Ralph Nader, Bob Barr, or Cynthia McKinney, all of whom were running for president, you would vote for all of them and rank your choice. In other words, you would list all five candidates on your ballot from one to five, with one being your first choice for president and five being your last choice.

If none of the candidates were chosen as the number one pick by a majority of voters in Round One, then the presidential candidate with the lowest number of votes would be eliminated from the ballot. People who selected that candidate as their top pick—let us say it was McKinney—would automatically have their votes changed to their second choice. Then the scores would be recalculated, over and over again, until one of the candidates finally won a majority as the second, third, or even fourth choice of voters.

In the end, a voter’s ballot might wind up being cast for the candidate he ranked far below his first choice—a candidate to whom he may have strong political objections and for whom he would not vote in a traditional voting system.

[i]Don't let them do it in your state![/i]
For once, I'm a 100% with you, that people should be cautious about ranked choice voting.

I'm not sure if it's a better idea or not, but I'm damned sure people need to understand it, and actually think about it, and the precise details of how its implemented before they get stuck with it.
Thinkerbell · 41-45, F
@MistyCee

You may have to move north, say, to Chicago.

Then you can be limited to voting for left-wing sociopaths.
@Thinkerbell That's kind of why I stayed, but moved to the Republican suburbs which didn't help much.
Thinkerbell · 41-45, F
@MistyCee

I live in a (mostly) Republican suburb.
But there are enough of both political persuasions that there are weekly demonstrations on Saturday mornings by left and right wing groups, standing across the main highway from each other with signs, slogans, etc. It's been going on for years, but peacefully. No fights or other violence that I'm aware of.

No white sheets, no hammers and sickles. 🙂
TexChik · F
coming to a blue state near you!
AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M
@TexChik we already have it in NYC. By including the word choice it makes people feel like they are participating in the democratic process , when they really live under one party rule
AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M
Rank choice allows people to believe they are in a democracy, rather than a one party system.
It’s a brilliantly deceptive idea.
DragonFruit · 61-69, M
Not a fan of the system either....but I don't know exactly how it works.
Could you select just one or two choices and not have to select say 4 of 5 if you have strong objections to the others?
I still think that the best way is to cast a vote for one individual, and if your choice doesn't win so be it.
It's a bit like a SW "improvement" that most people don't want.
Budwick · 70-79, M
@DragonFruit [quote]Could you select just one or two choices and not have to select say 4 of 5 if you have strong objections to the others?[/quote]

In most systems, if you were to do that, your ballot would considered invalid, and tossed out.
DragonFruit · 61-69, M
@Budwick That's not fair....if you can vote for up to 6 people for judgeships and only want to choose 1 or 2, that won't invalidate your ballot. Neither should not choosing a fu list of ranked choices.
Budwick · 70-79, M
@DragonFruit [quote]That's not fair..[/quote]

The whole thing is a ruse. That's the point of this post.
Watch out for it in your state!
trollslayer · 46-50, M
Thinking about this more from state/national elections I have voted in - most races I can say who I would want #1, and most of the others would be "no way". I wouldn't even put them #2, #3, etc. I think many others would feel the same way, so I don't see how there would be much benefit here. This seems to be what you are saying here, and I can say I agree with you.
beckyromero · 36-40, F
Of course, you do NOT have to rank your candidates. You can NOT rank some or all but one and only have the vote counted for your only choice.

But if people couldn't figure out they were actually voting for Patrick Buchanan in 2000, this might not be such a good idea as this is even more complicated.
trollslayer · 46-50, M
My problem with it is the majority of voters are probably too dumb to understand how it works.
Budwick · 70-79, M
@trollslayer Most democrats feel the same way about voters.
FreestyleArt · 31-35, M
Does it have to do with the Voting Machines? I hate those things. They're easy to Manipulate
badminton · 61-69, MVIP
What's wrong with having a run off vote?
Budwick · 70-79, M
@badminton What's wrong with NOT manipulating the voting?

I think primaries are what you are thinking of.
Zonuss · 41-45, M
Are you scared again Mr Bud. 😂
Budwick · 70-79, M
@Zonuss [quote]Are you scared again Mr Bud[/quote]

That you will cheat again?
You bet!
Zonuss · 41-45, M
@Budwick Proof. We are still waiting.😂

 
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