10-13-2016, 10:47 PM
(10-13-2016, 06:34 PM)masterpanthera_t Wrote: Serious question: what is required for any change to the electoral system? A constitutional amendment?
That is a tricky question. The way elections happen is actually decided at the state level. The Constitution lays out some rules for federal offices, like the electoral college and what not, but the rest (beyond date, but that's a different story) is left up to the states. Making the switch to alternative/instant runoff is a state level decision, Maine currently has it on their ballot.
The problem is that the parties are typically the gatekeepers for things like that getting on the ballot, and since it means them losing power, it ain't happening. Maine is doing it because they have been shafted by first past the post twice and want to make sure it doesn't happen again. Want to look at the spoiler effect of independents? Look at Maine's governor.
All of that being said, it could be remedied with an amendment. The question is, which would be more difficult to make happen?
"A great democracy has got to be progressive, or it will soon cease to be either great or a democracy..." - TR
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - FDR
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - FDR
