[lbo-talk] Prop. 62 Would Squelch Third Parties in California

Wojtek Sokolowski sokol at jhu.edu
Mon Oct 25 06:30:52 PDT 2004


Yoshie quoted:
> Prop. 62 would squelch innovation in state's politics
> By Richard Winger
>
> <http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/opinion/9975285.htm?1c>
> Posted on Thu, Oct. 21, 2004
> Proposition 62 provides that in elections for Congress and state
> office, all voters would receive the same ballot in the June primary.
> The ballot would contain all the candidates for those offices,
> regardless of party. Then, only the top two vote-getters would appear
> on the November ballot.
>

In most countries it is called run off elections and makes sense - it first gives people a chance to express their preference and then gives them a second chance if their first choice does not face any real chance of being elected. The only better alternative is the instant run off voting http://www.fairvote.org/irv/ in which voters rank order their preference, so no second run is necessary.

One of the unquestioned benefits of the run off system is that prevents spoilers, like Ralph Nader and scores of other moronic "third parties" that pop up like poisonous mushrooms every four years, to split the vote and deliver the election to one of the two big parties, usually Republicans.

So contrary to the crocodile tears sheared by the loose cannon "third parties" - Prop 62 can actually weaken the hands of the Democrats and Repugs by removing a powerful tool of undercutting their opponents by vote splitting.

Every sensible political reform minded person should support any political initiative (e.g. Prop 62) to establish a run off system.

Wojtek



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