Electoral and popular votesBy Rob Richie
Published June 23rd 2006 in Washington Times
Electoral and popular votes
The Washington Times has had two editorials this month about presidential elections in Latin America that are instructive for the value of establishing majority thresholds for winning executive offices.
The most recent editorial, "Nicaragua's election" (Monday) points out that in Nicaragua, the required vote for avoiding a runoff has declined from 45 percent to 35 percent — down to a level where it will be easier for Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega to win if his opposition is fractured, as may happen in this November's election. In contrast, as you pointed out on June 4 ("Peru's front-runners," Editorial ), Peru has a majority runoff requirement that was necessary for more centrist candidate Alan Garcia to overcome front-runner Lt. Col. Ollanta Humala, a left-leaning nationalistbackedby Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
A majority requirement does not mean left-leaning or right-leaning candidates can't win, but it does make it more likely that winners will be representative and that voters will be able to hold their leaders accountable. In fact, of the 28 major democracies that Freedom House rates highly for protecting human rights, 20 require winners to receive a majority in runoff elections, and one (Ireland) requires a majority with instant runoff voting. Two set lower thresholds, and just four allow plurality winners.
The American Electoral College system is unique among these democracies in allowing winners who lose the popular vote, but at least it does require candidates to obtain a majority of electoral votes.
Election Day '09 was a roller-coaster for election reformers. Instant runoff voting had a great night in Minnesota, where St. Paul voters chose to implement IRV for its city elections, and Minneapolis voters used IRV for the first time—with local media touting it as a big success. As the Star-Tribune noted in endorsing IRV for St. Paul, Tuesday’s elections give the Twin Cities a chance to show the whole state of Minnesota the benefits of adopting IRV. There were disappointments in Lowell and Pierce County too, but high-profile multi-candidate races in New Jersey and New York keep policymakers focused on ways to reform elections; the Baltimore Sun and Miami Herald were among many newspapers publishing commentary from FairVote board member and former presidential candidate John Anderson on how IRV can mitigate the problems of plurality elections.