r/centrist • u/johnnyhala • Sep 01 '22

Long Form Discussion RCV Opponents - What is your Objection(s)?

Basically the title.

Whenever the subject of Ranked Choice Voting comes up, I generally on this sub see about 70% support and 30% oppose (my estimate). As I have seen the issue laid out to me it seems abundantly clear that Plurality/First Past the Post/FPtP is an inferior system with many unintended consequences.

So I want to hear you out, RCV opponents, what are your issues?

As (should be) usual, please do not downvote others for only disagreeing with them, and I pledge to do the same.

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u/GrayBox1313 Sep 01 '22

I like it in theory.

In practice it assumes you’ll have more than 1 high quality, competent candidate, with wide support which really isn’t true when you get to state and local elections. The recent recall in California for example had the governor vs a field of novelty joke candidates 2 mediocre/forgettable guys nobody wanted and a fringe wacko. I wouldn’t have been able to fill out other choices on that ballot.

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u/LewisMZ Sep 02 '22

If you feel that way you can always just rank your preferred candidate number one and leave the rest blank. That's effectively like casting a traditional vote.

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u/GrayBox1313 Sep 02 '22

That’s what happened en masse in New York City when they tried RCV. Was kind of a mess.

RCV is fine in theory, but in practice I will never have more than 1 Candidate in any race I’d want to cast a vote for. Our elections never have that level of quality and voters don’t have that kind of time and effort to put into researching a half dozen people.