New Voting Systems for the Modern Age
Isn’t it time to try second-past-the-post?
Although the 2024 election is still over two years away, it’s not too early to take a look at how the president, vice president, and members of the House and Senate are chosen. In general, these positions are decided by a first-past-the-post (FPP) or so-called “winner-take-all” voting system although the presidential and vice-presidential races have the added wrinkle of the Electoral College.
Many commentators suggest that the FPP system is dated and unfair. After all, why should someone who doesn’t get a majority of the votes cast get to assume office? Then again, what would we replace that system with? Different options are on the table including a single transferable vote (STV) approach, a mixed-member proportional (or MMP) system, or even a full proportional scheme.
The problem as I see it is that Americans haven’t been offered a good substitute for the outmoded FPP system. Voters should have a whole smorgasbord of truly American electoral options to choose from. FPP, MMP, and STV could still be included but so, too, would the following new choices:
SPP or Second-past-the-post
Yet to be tried in any jurisdiction, SPP promises a whole new approach not only to voting but also to…
