Four states don’t use first-past-the-post for legislative elections. In particular:
Alaska - uses a top-4 primary + ranked choice general
Maine - uses ranked choice voting
California & Washington - use top-two primaries (note: CA can be top-3 if there is a tie for 2nd place)
If a third party wanted to succeed, they would put significant resources into winning legislative and congressional seats in those places. I don’t see any of them actually doing that though.
Rcv is “new and scary” peoples resistance to change will always make them shit on things they dont understand. The only solution is to have more of us then there are of them.
There were ads running against it and the arguments were nonsense, but there was nothing from the pro side. It was like they expected* the electorate to just know that it was better and didn’t think a campaign was needed.
Mostly because the progressives didn’t control them in the early 1900s, so they don’t have legislature-bypassing initiatives, and even in states where you do have that, it’s expensive to get one through.
Probably not, they have a nice cozy arrangement where they share the power. To allow multiple parties would mean to give that up, and most likely neither side is really interested in that.
I would love to be able to vote for a true leftist party in America. They will never allow it though.
Four states don’t use first-past-the-post for legislative elections. In particular:
If a third party wanted to succeed, they would put significant resources into winning legislative and congressional seats in those places. I don’t see any of them actually doing that though.
They’re not designed to win, they’re designed to offset whoever they’re turned against.
Why don’t more states abandon first-past-the-post?
Because the parties with the power don’t want to, because it might cost them power.
Massachusetts tried last time and the ballot initiative failed.
Rcv is “new and scary” peoples resistance to change will always make them shit on things they dont understand. The only solution is to have more of us then there are of them.
There were ads running against it and the arguments were nonsense, but there was nothing from the pro side. It was like they expected* the electorate to just know that it was better and didn’t think a campaign was needed.
*Expected, not requested
Mostly because the progressives didn’t control them in the early 1900s, so they don’t have legislature-bypassing initiatives, and even in states where you do have that, it’s expensive to get one through.
So disappointing. I feel like things will never change.
Political change tends to be like that — nothing at all for a long period when you don’t have the power to act, and sudden rapid change when you do.
It feels like we’re on the cusp of something big happening, for better or for worse.
Something worse probably and I am an optimist.
Probably not, they have a nice cozy arrangement where they share the power. To allow multiple parties would mean to give that up, and most likely neither side is really interested in that.