Instant Runoff Voting

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

Run time: 03:10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqblOq8BmgM   Posted on YouTube: October 27, 2006 By YouTube Member: fairvote Views on YouTube: 25089   Posted on DU: November 19, 2011 By DU Member: Mr_Jefferson_24 Views on DU: 963

 
I know this stuff is pretty elementary, but we STILL don't have it -- why?

Seems like a no brainer to me, but I rarely see it being discussed. Maybe there are some compelling arguments against it. If so, I'd like to hear them.

[LiberalFighter]

1. How many elections would Democrats lose because they only got 49.9% of the vote

instead of 50% +1?

If it had been in place here our mayor would had lost in the instant runoff.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

2. I'm not quite sure what to make of your comment...

...are you arguing against IRV?

What city are you in? Who's your Mayor?

[LiberalFighter]

3. I'm in Ft Wayne and our mayor is a Democrat.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

4. Not that far away from my home town...

...I grew up in Muncie and still have family there.

I'm still wondering how you feel about IRV. Do you not like the idea for multi-candidate elections?

[LiberalFighter]

5. I'm against it if it requires 50% + 1 to declare winner.

Why does there need to be 50% +1?

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

6. If I understand IRV correctly...

...it only requires 50% + 1 in the final instant runoff round where it's down to two candidates.

I don't know if you took a look at the video. IRV allows you to rank candidates on your ballot. For example if there are 4 candidates, after the first round of counting, one candidate (the one receiving the fewest votes) is eliminated. Then another count is done with the three remaining candidates. In this round, those who ranked the candidate who was eliminated in the initial count as their first choice, now have their ballots counted again with whoever got ranked 2nd receiving those votes. And again, like the first round, the candidate receiving the fewest votes is eliminated. So now we're down to two candidates meaning the final instant runoff round can be done. Again the ballots that we're cast for the candidate eliminated in the preceding round will be examined, and if either of the two remaining candidates is indicated as their next choice, they will be appropriately credited with these votes.

I believe the winner in this last round will need 50% + 1 -- I think it has to work this way.

And as the video points out, this system (IRV) eliminates the dreaded spoiler effect. I think Nader received 80 thousand plus votes in Florida in the 2000 presidential election, which some claim would have likely been ballots ranking Gore 2nd if it had been an IRV election, and thus, giving him the win.

Sorry if my explanation is unclear -- the video does a much better job.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

7. Here's a DU poll I did three years ago concerning IRV...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7826950