Republicans need a new voting process NOW to prepare for 2008. Remember Perot? Election spoilers have been causing voter dissatisfaction for years on both sides of the partisan fence. The fault lies not with voters but with the election process itself. Frustration associated with not being able to vote one's conscience without throwing your vote in favor of the opposition has led to voter disenfranchisement, decreased voter turn-out, and an increasing lack of faith in our election process. Here in Tennessee, it's especially frustrating because so many Tennesseans vote their values over voting partisan. Many say they "vote for the person" and others say their allegiance is "only to God". For whatever reason, the two parties lose these values voters by reducing the choice to the "lesser of two evils". Limiting choice all too often leads to good citizens casting a vote for a long shot. Why do they cross that line? Sometimes it's frustration; sometimes principle; sometimes it's sheer spite or stupidity. Take your best guess. Or maybe you've been there? Whatever the reason, it's tough luck for the two parties. Wise up Republicans, those are votes y'all could have now with a simple change in Tennessee legislation that switches to a ranked ballot. I know what yer thinkin'. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Famous last words. Republicans, change to ranked ballots because in Tennessee it will work in your favor. Change because it will heal the breach between estranged values voters and the Republican Party. Most importantly, change it because you can. Democrats may oppose this legislation while in the minority and this past senate election is case-in-point. Peace activist Chris Lugo only managed to draw away 2,500 votes. Not much of a spoiler. But, if Ford had managed to win Tennessee due to conservative election spoilers, there would be a lot of angry Republicans in this state right about now and some very happy Democrats. Imagine it playing out in your favor. Choate received 10,776 votes. Another 10,000 were split between Heyward, Keplinger, and None-of-the-above Gatchell (probably Libertarians), adding up to another 1%. If this election had been closer, say had more moderate or dissatisfied Republicans swung over to Ford, Tennessee might have suddenly found itself a blue state. Scary thought? If using a ranked ballot, those 20,000 or so votes might have instantly gone to Corker. Need I say more? Using (IRV) Instant Runoff Voting ranked ballots, your first place choice is counted first. If that candidate didn't receive over 50% of the vote, he/she is eliminated and your second choice is then counted, and so on until a candidate receives at least 50% of the vote (plus one). So...in this past election, chances are that with an IRV ranked ballot, Corker would have been the second choice of those who voted for the assorted independents (minus Lugo) so Corker would have pocketed another 2% of the total vote. Had the race been closer, that 2% could have made all the difference in the world. But whether or not it makes a difference in the result, IRV will always eliminate the possibility of a costly runoff and one thing you can count on for sure is that IRV will make the election process a whole lot more interesting for voters so more Tennesseans will vote, vote their conscience, and vote Republican. Bottom line is, Republicans??get IRV and ensure landslide victories in 2008. Democrats will want IRV later. You need IRV now. You can make it happen.
Posted: November 20 2006
| |
