tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14162253.post5893034551899168336..comments2024-03-27T08:39:28.807-06:00Comments on Wash Park Prophet: The Case For Majority RuleAndrew Oh-Willekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537151821869153861noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14162253.post-86837899978844547502008-11-07T09:38:00.000-07:002008-11-07T09:38:00.000-07:00Federal law prohibits states from establishing mul...Federal law prohibits states from establishing multi-member House Districts, which were an option used for much of U.S. history (the ban was designed to prevent multi-member at large races from suppressing minority voting power).<BR/><BR/>Gerrymandering is inherently problematic, but is tame in Colorado, where state constitutional provisions place significant constraints upon the kinds of plans that can be adopted.<BR/><BR/>While I was once a fan of IRV, I am no longer. It is cheaper and faster, but the experience of Denver, at least, has been that there isn't much of a dropoff in voter turnout for runoff elections. The opportunity for additional campaigning in key races, additional time to deliberate, and the ability to avoid asking voters hypothetical questions are all worthwhile in my view.Andrew Oh-Willekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02537151821869153861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14162253.post-73249811822604630402008-11-07T07:38:00.000-07:002008-11-07T07:38:00.000-07:00Unfortunately, as long as we use single-seat winne...Unfortunately, as long as we use single-seat winner-take-all elections, even with a majority requirement there is no assurance of majority rule.Due to gerrmandering, and partisan balance in entire states, winner-take-all elections always allow the majority of a legislative body to represent a minority of the voters. The only solution is some form of proportional representation(PR), though that can't work for U.S. Senate seats. There is no need to amend the federal constitution to adopt PR for the House. The most appropriate form of PR is the one adopted by Minneapolis using ranked-choice ballots. <BR/><BR/>For electing governors and any single-seat office (not a legislature), IRV makes the most sense. It is better, cheaper and faster than holding a separate runoff election, and avoids the drop-off in voter turnout that is typical of separate runoff elections.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com