Question

What are some alternatives to a “first past the post” system that might reduce the problem of voting cycles?

Short answer

Some alternatives to the "first past the post" system that might reduce the problem of voting cycles include ranked-choice voting, approval voting, cumulative voting, and the Borda count. Ranked-choice voting (instant-runoff voting) eliminates the candidate with the fewest votes in each round, redistributing their votes to the next preference on each voter's ranking until a winner emerges. Approval voting allows voters to "approve" multiple candidates, breaking ties between closely ranked candidates. Cumulative voting lets voters allocate a fixed number of points among candidates, reflecting their preference strength. The Borda count assigns points to candidates based on their rank in each voter's preference list, with the highest total points winning. These alternative systems can mitigate voting cycle issues by taking into account a broader range of voter preferences.

Step-by-step solution

Understand "First past the post" system

The "first past the post" system is a voting method in which the candidate with the most votes wins. This system is simplistic and easy to understand, but it's prone to issues like the voting cycle problem, where no clear winner emerges due to cyclical preferences among voters.

Alternative 1 - Ranked-choice voting

Ranked-choice voting, also known as instant-runoff voting, is an alternative voting method where voters rank the candidates in order of preference, rather than selecting just one candidate. In each round of counting, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are transferred to the next preference on each voter's ranking. This process continues until a candidate has more than half of the active votes, resulting in a clear winner. This system tends to reduce the problem of voting cycles, as it takes into account multiple preferences and eliminates less preferred options, forcing a clear decision.

Alternative 2 - Approval voting

In approval voting, each voter can vote for as many candidates as they wish, effectively "approving" multiple choices. The candidate with the most approval votes wins. This system reduces the problem of voting cycles by allowing voters to express support for more than one candidate, thus breaking any tie between candidates that may have occurred in "first past the post" system.

Alternative 3 - Cumulative voting

Cumulative voting allows each voter to distribute a fixed number of points among the candidates, allocating more points to their preferred candidates if they wish. The candidate with the highest sum of points from all voters wins. This voting method has the potential to minimize voting cycle problems by allowing voters to express the strength of their preference for candidates, resulting in a clearer winner.

Alternative 4 - Borda count

The Borda count is a method in which each candidate is assigned points based on their rank in each individual voter's preference list. The candidate with the highest total points wins. This method reduces the risk of voting cycles as it considers the entire preference order for each voter, rather than only focusing on their top choice. By examining these alternative voting methods, it is clear that there are multiple options that could help reduce the problem of voting cycles compared to the "first past the post" system. Each alternative method has its pros and cons, but they all show potential in mitigating the voting cycle issue by taking into account wider voter preferences.

Key concepts

First Past the Post

The "first past the post" (FPTP) system is one of the simplest voting systems used in many elections worldwide. It means "winner takes all," where the candidate with the most votes wins regardless of whether they achieve a majority. This system is straightforward because each voter selects one candidate, and the one with the most votes wins. However, it can lead to issues such as the "spoiler effect," where similar candidates split the vote, and voting cycles where no candidate achieves a clear majority due to cyclical preferences among voters. Despite its simplicity, FPTP does not always result in fair representation of voters' views.

Ranked-Choice Voting

Ranked-choice voting provides a different approach to elections, allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference. Here's how it works:

• Voters rank candidates from most to least preferred.
• If a candidate receives more than half of the first-choice votes, they win.
• If no candidate has a majority, the one with the fewest votes is eliminated.
• Voters who preferred the eliminated candidate have their votes transferred to their next choice.

This process repeats until a candidate with a majority emerges. By considering secondary preferences, ranked-choice voting reduces the likelihood of voting cycles and encourages appealing to a broader electorate.

Approval Voting

Approval voting is a system that gives flexibility to voters by allowing them to vote for, or "approve," all candidates they find acceptable. The candidate with the most "approval votes" wins. Advantages of this system include:

• Voters can support all the candidates they are comfortable with, not just their top choice.
• It avoids the problem of vote splitting among similar candidates.
• Encourages candidates to be appealing to a wider range of voters.

Approval voting offers a straightforward way to minimize the impact of voting cycles by letting voters express approval for multiple candidates, thereby increasing the chance of a more representative outcome.

Cumulative Voting

Cumulative voting is unique in that it allows voters to allocate a set number of votes however they choose among candidates. This is how it works:

• Each voter is given a number of votes.
• Voters can distribute their votes all to one candidate or spread them across several.
• The candidate with the most total votes wins.

This system provides voters with the power to express the intensity of their preference, which can effectively dilute the voting cycle issue by showing stronger support for certain candidates across broader preferences.

Borda Count

In the Borda count system, voters rank candidates, and points are assigned based on position in each voter's list. For example, in a three-candidate race:

• First place might receive 3 points, second place 2, and third place 1.
• All points are then summed to determine the winner.

The Borda count considers multiple preferences, offering a more nuanced reflection of voter sentiment. This method often helps prevent voting cycles by recognizing each voter's full ranking, thus providing a thorough consideration of how each candidate appeals across the spectrum of voter preferences. It tends to reward broadly appealing candidates rather than those with concentrated but narrow support.