FairVote - Favorite Son Effect

March 14th 2002
Just because majority of voters hate you, it doesn't mean you can't win
Daily Herald

John Anderson is cited with his description of instant runoff voting (IRV), which would introduce majority voting and improve democracy.

August 20th 2001
Hard-won voting rights always in peril
San Francisco Examiner

We must break from the two-party system, institute proportional representation, implement instant runoff voting (IRV), and begin direct election of the President in order to truly level the playing field for minorities and women.

July 12th 2001
Preventing the next Florida fiasco
Daily Texan

The Daily Texan discusses the massive benefits brought by instant-runoff voting to an electoral system.

March 12th 2001
Reclaiming Democracy
The American Prospect

NYU law professor Burt Neuborne discusses a wide range of reforms, including calls for serious consideration of instant runoff voting and proportional voting methods

January 24th 2001
Meddling with Reform/A Clear Majority Winner in 2000
TomPaine.com

Rob Richie proposes instant runoff voting and proportional allocation of electoral votes at a time when national popular election of the president seems unlikely; John Anderson offers IRV as a remedy to the spoiler effect.

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Home. > Presidential Elections Reform > Resources > Electoral College > How the Electoral College works today > Little Known Facts > Favorite Son Effect
	Favorite Son Effect One of the reasons the Founders created the Electoral College was to prevent a Favorite Son effect, in which citizens of a state would vote for a candidate who is also from their state solely for that reason. But in fact, the Electoral College has turned out to promote the Favorite Son effect instead of suppress it. Note that every single President, with the exception of James K. Polk in 1844, has won his home state. *Note: The Federal Elections Commission currently, and incorrectly, explains the Favorite Son effect as being prevented by parties selecting their Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees from different states. A Few States Wins Constitutional Residence State Size Special Interests Power of State Legislatures Unlucky Luck Ignoring Your Vote More Options Vague Values Electoral Replacements Electoral Tie Electoral College Table of Contents	March 14th 2002 Just because majority of voters hate you, it doesn't mean you can't win Daily Herald John Anderson is cited with his description of instant runoff voting (IRV), which would introduce majority voting and improve democracy. August 20th 2001 Hard-won voting rights always in peril San Francisco Examiner We must break from the two-party system, institute proportional representation, implement instant runoff voting (IRV), and begin direct election of the President in order to truly level the playing field for minorities and women. July 12th 2001 Preventing the next Florida fiasco Daily Texan The Daily Texan discusses the massive benefits brought by instant-runoff voting to an electoral system. March 12th 2001 Reclaiming Democracy The American Prospect NYU law professor Burt Neuborne discusses a wide range of reforms, including calls for serious consideration of instant runoff voting and proportional voting methods January 24th 2001 Meddling with Reform/A Clear Majority Winner in 2000 TomPaine.com Rob Richie proposes instant runoff voting and proportional allocation of electoral votes at a time when national popular election of the president seems unlikely; John Anderson offers IRV as a remedy to the spoiler effect. [ Previous ] [ Next ]