Depolarizing America with Ranked-Choice Voting
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5195/lawreview.2025.1096Abstract
Change is difficult. Most voters head to the polls on Election Day and fill in the oval next to a single candidate for each race on the ballot. Other than a few states, voters know nothing but the predominant “single-choice” system. Ranked-choice voting (“RCV”) is a voting reform proposal garnering national attention. In contrast to a “single-choice” system, RCV allows voters to rank multiple candidates. Beyond a change in procedure, ranked-choice voting would substantively change the culture of elections. Our current system incentivizes polarization among candidates and the electorate because, especially in primaries, candidates know they can win the election with a small percentage of the overall votes cast. Instead of seeking broad support, candidates can express more extreme views and still win. In contrast, ranked-choice voting reduces this polarization by requiring candidates to appeal to a broader base of the electorate and forcing them to moderate their rhetoric and policies.
Unfortunately, politicians only support RCV when it benefits their own interests. Some politicians know the theoretical benefits RCV can bring, but entrenchment in a system focused on power and opposition is preventing them from actualizing these benefits. Even with the recent, historic election, and polarization plaguing our politics, states are trying to quickly ban the use of this electoral reform. This reform should be favored by any proponent of democratic ideals and reduced political division. In the long run, RCV will moderate discourse, provide space for third and fourth parties to build momentum, and garner policy concessions from major parties.
Instead of waiting for self-interested politicians to pass RCV legislation, citizens should follow Maine and Alaska’s lead by passing voter-led ballot initiatives on RCV. Voters are tired of the polarized politics among elected officials, the media, and citizens themselves. RCV will bring more voters to the polls and build consensus. Citizens should use citizen-initiated ballot measures to pass RCV in their states to moderate polarization and force political candidates to seek a broader base of support during elections.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Kyle Compton
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- The Author retains copyright in the Work, where the term “Work” shall include all digital objects that may result in subsequent electronic publication or distribution.
- Upon acceptance of the Work, the author shall grant to the Publisher the right of first publication of the Work.
- The Author shall grant to the Publisher and its agents the nonexclusive perpetual right and license to publish, archive, and make accessible the Work in whole or in part in all forms of media now or hereafter known under a Creative Commons 4.0 License (Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works), or its equivalent, which, for the avoidance of doubt, allows others to copy, distribute, and transmit the Work under the following conditions:
- Attribution—other users must attribute the Work in the manner specified by the author as indicated on the journal Web site;
- Noncommercial—other users (including Publisher) may not use this Work for commercial purposes;
- No Derivative Works—other users (including Publisher) may not alter, transform, or build upon this Work,with the understanding that any of the above conditions can be waived with permission from the Author and that where the Work or any of its elements is in the public domain under applicable law, that status is in no way affected by the license.
- The Author is able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the nonexclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the Work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), as long as there is provided in the document an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post online a pre-publication manuscript (but not the Publisher’s final formatted PDF version of the Work) in institutional repositories or on their Websites prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. Any such posting made before acceptance and publication of the Work shall be updated upon publication to include a reference to the Publisher-assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and a link to the online abstract for the final published Work in the Journal.
- Upon Publisher’s request, the Author agrees to furnish promptly to Publisher, at the Author’s own expense, written evidence of the permissions, licenses, and consents for use of third-party material included within the Work, except as determined by Publisher to be covered by the principles of Fair Use.
- The Author represents and warrants that:
- the Work is the Author’s original work;
- the Author has not transferred, and will not transfer, exclusive rights in the Work to any third party;
- the Work is not pending review or under consideration by another publisher;
- the Work has not previously been published;
- the Work contains no misrepresentation or infringement of the Work or property of other authors or third parties; and
- the Work contains no libel, invasion of privacy, or other unlawful matter.
- The Author agrees to indemnify and hold Publisher harmless from Author’s breach of the representations and warranties contained in Paragraph 6 above, as well as any claim or proceeding relating to Publisher’s use and publication of any content contained in the Work, including third-party content.
