This post really should be shopped to major media (cleaned up, unfortunately). TC presents facts and framing (to borrow James Fallows’ term), that are not otherwise readily available.
Also, the Boudin recall demonstrates a serious weakness in ranked choice voting. The weakness is that we can’t do ranked choice voting unless the recall th…
This post really should be shopped to major media (cleaned up, unfortunately). TC presents facts and framing (to borrow James Fallows’ term), that are not otherwise readily available.
Also, the Boudin recall demonstrates a serious weakness in ranked choice voting. The weakness is that we can’t do ranked choice voting unless the recall threshold is significantly greater than it is today. Recall electioneering is becoming a standard part of the GOP/corporate playbook, and can just as easily be picked up by the left as well. Ranked choice voting means a minority candidate is being elected if they do not get elected in the first round. Thus, any recall that goes to a vote is nearly guaranteed to succeed. This undermines the main rationale behind ranked choice, that is, to reduce partisan incentives by creating space for compromise candidates who most people can live with even if they don’t support that candidate. The second rationale is to avoid the public expense of a second run off election, which would be an alternative means to find compromise candidates. A recall of a minority candidate breaks the compromise inherent in the original election and puts the public to the expense of an additional round of balloting.
There are many ways to conform the recall process to rank choice voting. A higher petition threshold. A vote requirement significantly greater than a majority (wouldn’t have helped Boudin, however). A requirement that opponents be permitted to stand for election on the same ballot with the incumbent to again be decided by ranked choice voting (thus allowing for a compromise candidate who might just be the incumbent). This last might be the most effective means to tamp down the rush to recall. And it’s a significant departure from the recall system applicable in California for Governor where the recall is decided as a yes or no vote and then a successor is chosen on the same ballot in which the incumbent is not allowed to be selected.
You go up top middle where you can see the address, then highlight it, then click copy, go to here and click paste. It's simple enough even we luddites can get it. :-)
Really good news. I think worthy of me writing about this here, as reinforcement to last week's post. Mister Mallworld finds he can't buy enough votes to not lose!!
This post really should be shopped to major media (cleaned up, unfortunately). TC presents facts and framing (to borrow James Fallows’ term), that are not otherwise readily available.
Also, the Boudin recall demonstrates a serious weakness in ranked choice voting. The weakness is that we can’t do ranked choice voting unless the recall threshold is significantly greater than it is today. Recall electioneering is becoming a standard part of the GOP/corporate playbook, and can just as easily be picked up by the left as well. Ranked choice voting means a minority candidate is being elected if they do not get elected in the first round. Thus, any recall that goes to a vote is nearly guaranteed to succeed. This undermines the main rationale behind ranked choice, that is, to reduce partisan incentives by creating space for compromise candidates who most people can live with even if they don’t support that candidate. The second rationale is to avoid the public expense of a second run off election, which would be an alternative means to find compromise candidates. A recall of a minority candidate breaks the compromise inherent in the original election and puts the public to the expense of an additional round of balloting.
There are many ways to conform the recall process to rank choice voting. A higher petition threshold. A vote requirement significantly greater than a majority (wouldn’t have helped Boudin, however). A requirement that opponents be permitted to stand for election on the same ballot with the incumbent to again be decided by ranked choice voting (thus allowing for a compromise candidate who might just be the incumbent). This last might be the most effective means to tamp down the rush to recall. And it’s a significant departure from the recall system applicable in California for Governor where the recall is decided as a yes or no vote and then a successor is chosen on the same ballot in which the incumbent is not allowed to be selected.
Excellent points, Gary. Everything you just added to what I wrote - the recall process - should also be an article.
Would hate to see your writing "cleaned up" TC.
See the Jessica Schulberg article on HuffPost today. I’m not tech savvy enough to figure out how to copy the link.
You go up top middle where you can see the address, then highlight it, then click copy, go to here and click paste. It's simple enough even we luddites can get it. :-)
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/california-criminal-justice-reform-primary_n_62acc748e4b04a61735c535d
Really good news. I think worthy of me writing about this here, as reinforcement to last week's post. Mister Mallworld finds he can't buy enough votes to not lose!!
See, I told you it was easy. :-)
Write that, please.