From someone arguing that approval voting is better than RCV because... centrists would win more.

  • eduardog3000 [he/him]
    hexagon
    ·
    edit-2
    2 years ago

    In terms of idealist voting reform I prefer single transferable vote.

    And this is exactly what the person I posted is arguing against. One of his arguments was it causes a "centrist squeeze" where centrists will be more likely to lose in the first round even though they'd beat other candidates head-to-head ("condorcet winner"). Of course that's actually good, because centrists only win head-to-head by being the least hated candidate, so no one would be happy with the outcome.

    Though what he's arguing for is actually approval voting, which is literally just you can vote for as many people as you want and whoever gets the most wins. Pretty easy to understand, but overall a worse system that like you said favors centrists.

    • ClimateChangeAnxiety [he/him, they/them]
      ·
      2 years ago

      One of his arguments was it causes a “centrist squeeze” where centrists will be more likely to lose in the first round

      It’s almost like… it’s almost like that’s the whole point.

      Approval voting is great when you’re with a group of people trying to decide where to eat (60% are okay with MeatBurgers 40% are okay with SaladsOnly, 100% are okay with MeatOrVeggieSandwichCo) but fucking terrible for government.

    • CheGueBeara [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      Yes, exactly. Approval voting basically has a centrist spoiler effect. What, you want the right of to win? You'd better include the shit lib on your ballot!