Voting method reform in the US (with Aaron Hamlin)

Aug 24, 2022

Aaron Hamlin, the executive director of The Center for Election Science, dives deep into the flaws of the U.S. electoral system. He discusses why many vote against their own interests and how current methods like ranked-choice voting can obscure true preferences. Exploring alternatives such as approval voting, he highlights the benefits it brings to representation, especially for third-party candidates. Hamlin also addresses the challenges of implementing voting reforms and the importance of grassroots efforts to facilitate change.

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INSIGHT

US Voting System

The US uses plurality voting (or first past the post), a suboptimal system.
There are many ways to organize a democracy, and the US system isn't good.

ANECDOTE

2000 Election Example

The 2000 US presidential election exemplifies vote splitting.
Had Florida voters chosen Al Gore over Ralph Nader, the outcome might have changed.

INSIGHT

Voting as Expression

Voting expresses preferences, informing others and shaping actions.
Accurately measuring candidate support is crucial, enabling better feedback loops and future runs.

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