• reddig33@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    How does this compare to first past the post? Does it make any difference in outcomes?

    Reading the article it sounds simpler to me, but without weighting the selections (like ranked choice) it just sounds like Dems would select every Dem, and Republicans would just select every Republican - not really changing the outcome.

    • brisk@aussie.zone
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      5 days ago

      First past the post inherently reinforcers a two party system as voting for a third party benefits the parties that you least want. That’s the spoiler effect.

      Approval voting doesn’t have that problem, so alternatives can actually show up and be viable.

      RCV (actually IRV) has less of a spoiler effect than FPTP but it still has a substantial “centre squeeze” effect as moderate candidates — with broad support but few first preference votes — get eliminated early.

      There are much better voting systems that actually attempt to identify the Condorcet winner. The only advantage AV or IRV have over Condorcet methods is simplicity

    • EnsignWashout@startrek.website
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      5 days ago

      How does this compare to first past the post? Does it make any difference in outcomes?

      Yes. It may be the only chance American Democrats have of winning any future elections.

      The next wildcard candidate will attract a bunch of votes, while a Democrat who stands for shitty compeomises could still get a “better than the other asshole” approval vote.

      • reddig33@lemmy.world
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        5 days ago

        I doubt it. At best, Dem and wildcard liberal will get same amount of votes. Republican and wildcard conservative will get same amount of votes.

        • EnsignWashout@startrek.website
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          5 days ago

          Except there’s no non-wildcard Republican candidate.

          They’ve cracked the formula for telling their voter base that this time will be different and anti-establishment.

          While the Democrats have solved for how to exhaust their voter base patience. (Bombing innocent people in other countries.)

          Approval based voting is the only way the Democratic party remains a player in American politics.