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[jenreiautter]

I've had several people PM me to start this topic in the General Debate forum. Currently it's a topic in the 3rd Party forum, link here.

IRV has a lot of advantages:

http://www.fairvote.org/irv/whatis2.htm

Instant runoff voting allows for better voter choice and wider voter participation by accommodating multiple candidates in single seat races and assuring that a "spoiler"-effect will not result in undemocratic outcomes. Instant runoff voting allows all voters to vote for their favorite candidate without fear of helping elect their least favorite candidate, and it ensures that the winner enjoys true support from a majority of the voters.

http://www.instantrunoff.com/

The IRV works basically as follows:  Instead of just casting one vote for one candidate, voters rank the candidates: 1,2,3, etc. (hence, the motto, "it's as easy as 1-2-3.").  If no candidate receives a majority of the #1 votes, the candidate with the least total of #1 votes is eliminated. The second choice votes from these ballots are then transferred to the other candidates. The ballots are recounted, and candidates are eliminated in this fashion until 1 winner emerges with a majority of the vote.

snip (benefits)

*When there are more than 2 candidates, it ensures the winner has a majority.  Without IRV, the winner can win with less than 50% of the vote.  How do we really know they have a mandate?

*It will allow more candidates, including independents and third-parties, to get involved in a race, without being accused of "spoiling" the elections.  Even if your favorite candidate comes in last, at least IRV allows your next favorite candidate to be counted.  No more wasting your vote, and no more spoilers.

*It will decrease negative campaigning.  To win, candidates need to get some 2nd and 3rd place votes, as well as 1st place votes.  They'll be less likely to "go negative" if they need their opponent's voters, too.

*IRV saves money.  Some states and local elections hold runoffs weeks later to pick the winner.  IRV holds the runoff all in one election--saving money.

There are a lot of advantages for 3rd parties to support IRV, but I've felt the Democrats and Republicans would be afraid that they would lose their monopoly of the left and right as the 3rd parties would most likely grow from this type of voting system.

Questions to Debate:

1) Would you support IRV, why or why not?

2) What would it take to get the US to use IRV for national elections?

3) If you are a Democrat or Republican, would you be afraid that IRV might make the two party system obsolete? Why or why not?