Electoral College Football

[mrbowler]

Thought this was interesting...LOL

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[crazytimes]

I think the electoral college should be just done away with. That way EVERY vote would count and not just those who went with the majority in their state.

[mrbowler]

Couple Ideas:

Here's a Interesting Way that Third Party's are trying to gain more influence, and is used in various ways already in the United States called Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) -I haven't explored, but it's something that voter's might gain more acceptance of.

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IRV is a reform that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, so that in cases where there is no initial majority winner, a runoff recount can be conducted without a new election to determine which candidate is actually preferred by a majority of voters.

"A growing number of jurisdictions have come to see that the diminished costs of elections and the inevitable attrition of voter interest in a second election make IRV a thoroughly practical means of assuring voters that their will can be carried out in a single election. It is a reform that enhances the right of democratic choice in a common sense way."

John B. Anderson, nine-term member of Congress, 1980 Independent candidate for President of the United States, law professor.

The IRV works basically as follows: Instead of just casting one vote for one candidate, voters rank the candidates: 1,2,3, etc. (hence, the motto, "it's as easy as 1-2-3."). If no candidate receives a majority of the #1 votes, the candidate with the least total of #1 votes is eliminated. The second choice votes from these ballots are then transferred to the other candidates. The ballots are recounted, and candidates are eliminated in this fashion until 1 winner emerges with a majority of the vote. The animated links to the left can help clarify this simple process, but let's talk about why it's a superior voting system, first:

When there are more than 2 candidates, it ensures the winner has a majority. Without IRV, the winner can win with less than 50% of the vote. How do we really know they have a mandate?
It will allow more candidates, including independents and third-parties, to get involved in a race, without being accused of "spoiling" the elections. Even if your favorite candidate comes in last, at least IRV allows your next favorite candidate to be counted. No more wasting your vote, and no more spoilers.
It will decrease negative campaigning. To win, candidates need to get some 2nd and 3rd place votes, as well as 1st place votes. They'll be less likely to "go negative" if they need their opponent's voters, too.
IRV saves money. Some states and local elections hold runoffs weeks later to pick the winner. IRV holds the runoff all in one election--saving money.

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Interesting possible change to electoral college in Colorado:

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