The very unsettled U.S. electorate may differ on so many issues, but the majority seem to agree on one thing. They aren’t happy with either Presidential choice for November 2024. The two dominant parties control the primaries and the conventions. What’s a voter to do?
Pay attention to Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). Learn what it is. See where it is being used. Look for groups working to institute this practice across the country. It is presently in use in several cities and states. Change is difficult, uncomfortable, and unpopular. At some point, the current Duopoly offering widely divergent, narrow policy direction will become untenable. I’d venture we’re there now, ready for change.
The electorate has done this before. The excellent (and short) book, The Politics Industry, describes how the U.S. electorate demanded and got change in the federal election process. And in Congressional rules. The book also relates the path taken by the Duopoly (the Republican and Democratic Parties) to strengthen their hold on voting, Congress, and our politics. It also offers several feasible suggestions to reverse this government stranglehold. At the top of the list? Ranked Choice Voting — and how it works. Why it is so much better. (The book is described in the Book Shout-outs category in the Democracy and Constitution post.)
Americans are more pragmatic than theoretical in their personal political views. Few feel affinity with either of the major parties. The stage is ripe for another major party. Both of the Duopolies seem to be fracturing. Where does a new party coalesce? Ranked Choice Voting would promote debate over more varied ideas and proposals. Alternatives will surface.
Vladimir Putin once said that the Russian people aren’t ready for democracy. We have it here. Let’s not take that for granted. A President supposedly needs to set the course for any policy initiatives in the first 100 days. The electorate’s “first days” are right in front of us.
Here are resources to start your investigations.
1) What Ranked Choice Voting is and how it works.
https://ballotpedia.org/Ranked-choice_voting_(RCV)
https://campaignlegal.org/democracyu/accountability/ranked-choice-voting
2) A non-partisan group working to establish RCV across the U.S. (Disclaimer: I support them, in my own modest financial way.)
3) Another site, describing RCV.
https://fairvote.org/our-reforms/ranked-choice-voting/
4) Sites for states using RCV or about to use it.
https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming/rcv.html
https://www.elections.alaska.gov/election-information/#RankedChoice
https://www.alaskansforbetterelections.com/learn-more/ranked-choice-voting/
Above all, get out and vote.