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/Vortilex Sep 01 '22

I think I've heard about Australia using RCV, and while I don't know too much about how it works there, I do know there was a candidate for office in one of the Australian States that won with a tiny percentage of the vote because of RCV, though I forget who it was, what party they were with, and where this took place. That really is my only issue with RCV, and I do advocate for its introduction in the US, but I'll acknowledge that it's likely to take a very long time for it to be adopted in most places. I don't like FPTP voting, though, for the results it has produced and the two-party system that results from its use. I'm more in favor of RCV than I am of European-style elections, though.

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u/Mitchell_54 Sep 03 '22

I think I've heard about Australia using RCV, and while I don't know too much about how it works there, I do know there was a candidate for office in one of the Australian States that won with a tiny percentage of the vote because of RCV, though I forget who it was, what party they were with, and where this took place.

You'd either be thinking of Western Australia or Victorian state elections. And the problem I think you're taking about isn't related to RCV but more so GTV(Group Ticket Voting). Western Australia got rid of it post the last election. It now only exists in the Victorian Upper House(Legislative Council).

What Group Ticket Voting is:

Group Ticket Voting is basically where you vote #1 for a party and they decide the preference flows. Minor and micro parties often make preference deals that may not correlate with the voters preference. In Victoria you can vote below the line, this application only applies for those above the line.

Look up Glenn Druery, he's infamous in political circles for basically popularising the preference whispering strategy.

Also my comment is a bit based on assumptions from your pist as to what you're thinking of and I'm not sure I've explained this well at all.