A preference ballot minimizes the negative traits and the results. They allow you to be able to rank your first choice, second choice, third choice, and etc. The more voters that you have that fill out the ballots will lead to a more successful result.
There have been controversies over the years with America's voting system. Currently, we use the "Old Fashion" voting system. We simply pick one person who you think is the best candidate. Having that minimum option makes people less educated about candidates in the election. There are voters who are educated about the candidates but not as many who are educated about candidates.
If we would switch to use the preference ballot for our voting system, maybe that would make a huge difference. I found some research and examples online that I found very interesting and almost shocking. The majority that I read is that our society would like to be able to use preference ballot for our elections. By using preference ballot, it pretty much forces are person to do some research on the candidates who are running for whatever office. I posted a link at the bottom to show where I got most of this information from. The link also has great examples of different ways to use the ballot preference in the voting system!
http://www.accuratedemocracy.com/c_ballot.htm
I agree that people should be more informed about who they are voting for. An uninformed electorate could lead to the election of an incompetent officeholder, which could have serious consequences for the nation.
ReplyDeleteI think a preference ballot is a much more accurate form of voting than what we use today, that is, as long as the voters are informed enough and are being honest when they vote. - Ben Steines
ReplyDeleteTime and time people don't research the person they vote for. They see catchy ads belittling the other person or base there decision on things that aren't relevant for a better nation like race, gender, and ethical beliefs. I voted in the latest Presidential election and tuned out all the unecessary background noise but could see how that would be enough to deter some people from voting at all.I believe we need to get away from "American Idol" popularity contest and pick up whatever voting system can achieve this.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading about the preference vote, I also agree that this seems like a way better way of voting because then if gives you options. I think it would be also better for people to know about the candidates with the preference ballot. Some people only vote for a certain candidate because of one thing they say and it catches their eye. No, learn a little more about who is who when making a decision. I hope someday we switch to preference ballot voting.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that the preference ballot method seems to be a more effective and fair way of voting. I think anyone who wants to go out and vote should have the right knowledge about each candidate. I believe it is a big problem today that people vote just to vote without knowing prior facts. Maybe one day we will eventually switch methods and use the preference ballot to see how it turns out.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ben Steines. After the 'ice cream, pie, brownie' example in class, we ended up with a totally different winner from the way we normally vote at the polls. It reflects a more accurate fair approach to the voting. Eventually more attention will be brought to voting in America because eventually different parties will realize that their voice is not being heard. Maybe there should be a preference ballot for different parties other than the Republican or Democratic party? It is a lot of votes cut out, that could increase the chances of the elephant or the donkey.
ReplyDelete-Whitney Wade
Preference ballots would be a good way to show public opinion in elections, and many European countries use it to choose which seats each party gets in their Parliaments. Of course, this can lead to some rather bizarre-looking ballots (England has a "Crazy Monster Machine" party that is listed in parts of the country, for example), but it generally should work out for better representation of the population because of it.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the preference ballots. I feel that they are the best and most effective way to vote in the society. It all comes down to the voters understanding who they are voting for and why they are voting for that person.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like some of you have changed your minds since your comments on Tasha's summary post! This will be interesting to talk about in class today.
ReplyDeletePlurality voting while at first glance seeming problematic avoids several insurmountable problems from preference voting.
ReplyDelete1-Preferance voting forces compromise between the candidates which may alter or change true campaign views. It stops becoming about their legislative agenda and more about why they should be prefered at a certain spot on the ballot. Also, to groups that they know wont prefer them first which makes clear campaigning and advertisement harder to read if not worse than today.
2. It forces voters to support a candidate to endorse a candidate they dont prefer. If an individual doesnt support a candidate they ought not be force to vote for them. It is a manipulation of American votes and perception which misguides public policy.
3-The unclear majority that sometimes results as an impact of plurality voting can be offset by a clear majority in congress or senate. Philosophically the most important goal of voting is that an American's voice be accurately represented and that isnt possible for a percentage of voters under the plurality system.
Addressing Jalon's comments - in countries which use IRV (the most common form of preference voting), politicians are forced to compromise much more. In that respect your first comment is correct, but I'm not sure it's a bad thing. Rather than becoming polarized by the need to capture votes on the extremes, they are forced to find middle ground because most voters are moderate about most things. For example, Mitt Romney's about face on the health care issue would probably not have happened in an IRV system, because he would not have been forced to try to win votes from the far right. The plurality system (in this country, anyway) forces politicians to assume extreme views that they do not necessarily actually have.
ReplyDeleteIn essence,
DeleteI dont think a voting system or the type of system we use to elect candidates heavily effect there posistions. Rather the party system, which is inevitable in any political system.
Candidates that dont adapt or exacertabate their campaign positions are noramlly highly succesful electoral(.Clinton,Bush,Reagan and even FDR).Romney is a succesful example of the downfaults of being ungenuine about your beliefs in a pularilty system. A consistent narrative we heard about Governor Romney was that he was ungeniune and consistent.