Many voters are distressed by choosing their favorite candidates in a crowded field, especially when their values ​​are divided between different candidates or different parties. But there may be a solution: another way of voting allows voters to vote carefully without worrying that their votes will be wasted.

It's called a ranked choice vote, and there is a complete non-profit organization dedicated to bringing it to North Carolina.

The most common model of democracy in the United States is called the "voting majority law," in which each voter chooses only their preferred seat. But Diane Silver from the non-partisan Better Ballot North Carolina says that “winner takes all” style of voting has a number of problems, including expensive runoff elections, political meddling in primaries, and the struggle of “wasted votes," particularly when voters Go to a third party.

"People are accused and humiliated, and their friends will tell them,'Oh my God, don't vote for a third party, you're wasting your vote'," Silver calls the Fear Women's League in the Lower Cape on a Zoom call It explained to voters: “I should be allowed to support third parties without being ashamed of it.”

Ranking selection voting can end this issue, allowing third-party voters to vote in case their favorite does not win. This may sound complicated, but Silver says it's actually quite intuitive.

"When you get a vote, instead of just selecting one candidate, you can rank the candidates in order of preference: first choice, second choice, and third choice. It's very easy," she explained.

"We are always ranking things. You know,'Please buy me ice cream.' "Of course, what flavor do you want? "Give me chocolates." If they don’t have chocolate, please give me strawberries, if they don’t have strawberries, please give me vanilla. "This is a ranking choice."

It can operate in the same way as politics. Voters choose multiple candidates in the order they like. Initially, each voter's first choice will count the votes. If no one gets more than 50% of the votes in the election in the first round of vote counting, the candidate with the fewest votes will be eliminated. Those who choose the unqualified candidate as the first choice will calculate their second choice and add it to the pool of other voters.

"The winner of the lowest vote is eliminated. We have a runoff, which is an immediate runoff," Silver explained. "If your first choice is still running, then it is calculated again. If your first choice is eliminated, your second choice is very important, if your second choice is eliminated, your third choice is Very important."

This cycle continues until the candidate gets 50% of the votes. No one's votes will be counted because their first choice is eliminated and no one gets more than one vote.

Silver said that ranking voting has many benefits, including clear authorization for any winning candidate. At least half of voters voted for the winner, even if they were the second or third choice of some voters. It saves money and time for expensive runoff elections because runoff is automatic. Ranking selection votes also contribute to partisanship. "Our voting system rewards negative emotions and motivates candidates to embark on a muddy path because it works."

But as the ranking voted, the incentives changed, Silver said. "Because you need a second or third vote to overcome the 50% barrier and get a majority. You don't want to alienate your opponent's supporters."

She added that ranking election voting can simplify voter elections. Often, voters in the United States play a political calculous to determine which candidate is "most electable," rather than which candidate is closest to their own views.

"Vote by level selection. You can simply vote, and you can vote honestly," Silver said. "You don’t have to develop a strategy, and you won’t hurt your favorite person by voting for your second or third choice. And you won’t help your least favorite person by voting for your first choice first. ."

The backup system helps to ensure that every ballot is important, even if someone votes early. Silver cited the 2020 Democratic primary election as an example. Early voters sometimes saw their preferred candidate withdraw before the primary election in their state.

"If you vote for a candidate who subsequently withdraws before Election Day, your votes are wasted when your votes are counted. Super Tuesday happened to more than 2 million voters," Silver Say. If the primaries allow voting by ranking, those voters will not be deprived of their rights.

Ranking selection voting is used in national or state elections in Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, and is used in 22 jurisdictions in the United States. Silver said that two entire states have adopted this type of voting: Utah passed the legislature to vote, and Maine passed the voting initiative.

Silver said that ranking selection votes must come from the North Carolina legislature: in this state, voting measures are not a viable option.

This is why Silver is looking for volunteers. "We want to be able to show lawmakers that thousands of voters in North Carolina told us that they thought it was a good idea."