Spring Break
Rethinking ASCSU elections
Seth Anthony
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Opinion
Fortunately, there are ways of holding elections that bypass many of these problems. Some voting systems do this by having the top two finishers face each other in a second runoff election. But runoff elections are expensive, time-consuming and rarely see the turnout of the first. For ASCSU, the already miniscule turnout would drop even further.
An easier way is by using an "instant runoff" voting method, where each voter ranks the candidates from favorite to least favorite. People who vote for the less popular candidates then have their second and third preferences considered.
With online voting, like we use in ASCSU, it'd be easy to use instant-runoff voting. In general elections, it just means small changes on ballots to be able to rank-order candidates. Rep. John Kefalas has introduced a bill here in Colorado to allow cities and counties to do just that.
Candidates in instant-runoff races have reported that, because second and third choices can be important, that it's more important for them to talk to every voter and remain positive.
Instant-runoff voting can help generate more civil campaigns and give us representatives more in tune with the voters. It's used to elect representatives in Ireland and Australia, in San Francisco and in North Carolina. Universities from Harvard to Caltech use it in their student governments.
There's really no excuse for electing one candidate when a majority of voters prefer someone else. It's time for ASCSU to lead the way in creating a better democracy, and adopt instant-runoff voting.
Seth Anthony is a chemistry Ph.D. student. His column appears Thursdays in the Collegian. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.
An easier way is by using an "instant runoff" voting method, where each voter ranks the candidates from favorite to least favorite. People who vote for the less popular candidates then have their second and third preferences considered.
With online voting, like we use in ASCSU, it'd be easy to use instant-runoff voting. In general elections, it just means small changes on ballots to be able to rank-order candidates. Rep. John Kefalas has introduced a bill here in Colorado to allow cities and counties to do just that.
Candidates in instant-runoff races have reported that, because second and third choices can be important, that it's more important for them to talk to every voter and remain positive.
Instant-runoff voting can help generate more civil campaigns and give us representatives more in tune with the voters. It's used to elect representatives in Ireland and Australia, in San Francisco and in North Carolina. Universities from Harvard to Caltech use it in their student governments.
There's really no excuse for electing one candidate when a majority of voters prefer someone else. It's time for ASCSU to lead the way in creating a better democracy, and adopt instant-runoff voting.
Seth Anthony is a chemistry Ph.D. student. His column appears Thursdays in the Collegian. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.
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