Why am I wrong to like the Electoral College?

[acbytesla]

Where you you get "three" from? At most you would have 2 ballots and the second ballot (the run off election) would only occur if no candidate got a majority in the first ballot (and, as has been pointed out, you could use "instant run-off and have only one election).

Preferential voting (as it is known in Australia) may only affect the result in a relatively small number of electorates but this is often enough to tip the balance of power in favour of the voters' real desires. As I pointed out earlier, it could also have changed the result in some swing states and given Hillary Clinton the presidency in 2016.

There's a primary, a general and you're suggesting a runoff. That's 3 elections in 8 months for one position.

 

[psionl0]

There's a primary, a general and you're suggesting a runoff. That's 3 elections in 8 months for one position.

I'm not sure that the primaries count as actual elections but even if they did, as has been mentioned before, simply use instant run-off (aka "alternate voting" or "preferential voting") and the number of "elections" remains the same.

I might add that it may be difficult getting enough states to defy their voters if a presidential candidate gets a simple plurality of the vote. However, you might have more success in persuading them to use instant run-off for the presidential poll. It's probably not as good as a national vote using run-off or allocating the EC votes proportionally but it is better than the FPTP that is used for the EC now.

 

[acbytesla]

I'm not sure that the primaries count as actual elections but even if they did, as has been mentioned before, simply use instant run-off (aka "alternate voting" or "preferential voting") and the number of "elections" remains the same.

I might add that it may be difficult getting enough states to defy their voters if a presidential candidate gets a simple plurality of the vote. However, you might have more success in persuading them to use instant run-off for the presidential poll. It's probably not as good as a national vote using run-off or allocating the EC votes proportionally but it is better than the FPTP that is used for the EC now.

Of course they do. And by the way. Anyone can run on either party's ticket. In effect,we already do have a run off election. Why not just have a primary where the top two in the primaries regardless of parties run in the general?

 

[psionl0]

Of course they do. And by the way. Anyone can run on either party's ticket. In effect,we already do have a run off election. Why not just have a primary where the top two in the primaries regardless of parties run in the general?

Making the general effectively a run-off election is also an option (probably even easier to sell).

 

[acbytesla]

Making the general effectively a run-off election is also an option (probably even easier to sell).

My state (Washington State) does that for races other than President.