Let us Vote
episode 1
Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore is education.
Franklin D Roosevelt
Lessons
ranked choice voting (RCV), also known as Instant Runoff Voting (IRV), is a voting system where voters rank candidates in order of preference (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.). If no candidate receives a majority (more than 50%) of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the voters’ next preferences. This process repeats until one candidate achieves a majority.
plurality method -Plurality voting (also called “first-past-the-post”) is the simplest and most common voting system: each voter selects one candidate (their top choice), and the candidate with the most votes wins — even without a majority (over 50%).
plurality with elimination (also known as Instant Runoff Voting or Ranked Choice Voting) is a voting system in which voters rank candidates in order of preference. The process begins by counting first-choice votes. If no candidate has a majority (more than 50%), the candidate with the fewest first-place votes is eliminated, and those votes are transferred to the voters’ next-highest remaining preference. This elimination and redistribution process repeats until one candidate achieves a majority of the votes.
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This is the introductory video.... as it breifly explains the lesson and its pieces
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We start with the basics of preference tables—how to read them, interpret key information, and compare voter rankings. From there, we walk through the plurality method, the most commonly used system, and show how to identify a winner step by step.
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of our Voting Methods series, we dive deeper into how we actually count votes and why the method we choose matters so much for democracy. We start by reviewing the Plurality Method using full preference tables, then compare it directly to Plurality with Elimination — also known as Ranked Choice Voting (RCV).
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QUIZ
How does ranked-choice voting work? The answer might surprise you—and it could change what you think you know about free and fair elections. Watch to learn the truth behind this fast-growing election scheme—and how your vote could be at risk in the next election. Learn the truth about ranked-choice voting here https://thefga.org/ranked-choice-voti...
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​FYI :In short, FGA is a prominent conservative/libertarian-leaning organization that advocates for right-of-center policies at the state level. It presents itself as nonpartisan in legal terms (as a 501(c)(3)), but its policy agenda and donor base are clearly aligned with conservative priorities.
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QUIZ follows..
In most parts of the United States, voters select a single candidate for each position on their ballot, and the candidate with the most votes wins. This is known as single-choice, winner-take-all, which can sometimes result in the election of a candidate who earned only a small percentage of the vote. But that’s not the only way of electing our leaders.
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FYI... FairVote, the organization closely associated with ranked choice voting advocacy and educational materials, presents itself as a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on electoral reform. However, independent analyses consistently identify a left-center to liberal slant in its work. This perception stems from its funding sources (including major progressive and center-left foundations such as Open Society Foundations, Tides Foundation, and Hewlett Foundation), the nature of its proposed reforms (which tend to gain stronger support in Democratic-leaning areas), and its alignment with broader liberal priorities around expanding voter choice and representation. While FairVote maintains it works across the political spectrum, critics on the right often view its efforts as structurally favoring progressive outcomes in practice.
Quiz follows....
What is Ranked Choice Voting and what are its pros and cons. In this video, we will cover everything you need to know about it.
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FYI... I find this video to be a balanced presentation of the pros and cons of ranked choice voting...
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Quiz follows...
Resources___
What follows are documents and additional resources for practice and preparations for the final exam...
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