Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

  • Shop
  • Subscribe to BMG
  • Contact
  • Log In
  • Front Page
  • All Posts
  • About
  • Rules
  • Events
  • Register on BMG

AG Race Just Became Another Argument for Ranked Choice Voting

August 30, 2022 By Christopher

I’m not entirely sure why, with just a week to go and mail and early voting already started, but Quentin Palfrey announced today that he is suspending his campaign for Attorney General and has endorsed Andrea Campbell.  Many, myself included, already have voted, and some of those votes, again mine included, were likely for Palfrey.  Though his name is still on the ballot many who haven’t voted probably won’t vote for him now even if they were inclined to do so before.  If he’s right about not having a path and likely to come in third, that will almost certainly be a self-fulfilling prophecy now.  If we had RCV then my already cast vote for Palfrey would not be wasted and would be counted toward my second choice, which Palfrey’s endorsement notwithstanding would have been for Shannon Liss-Riordan.  (I remain baffled that Campbell seems to have done so well.  As activist as I am I didn’t know who she was until she announced and didn’t meet her until this summer, which is extremely unusual for me.)

I even wonder whether RCV legal language could include something like, “If, subsequent to the ballot being printed but prior to the close of business on the day before election day, a candidate certifies in writing to the Secretary of the Commonwealth that he no longer wishes to be considered for the office being sought, the ranking for that candidate shall be skipped in the counting and the ballot shall be credited to the candidate of the next highest ranking in that round.”  For example, if we had RCV in this race I would have ranked Palfrey first, Liss-Riordan second, and Campbell third, but with this language rather than count my vote for Palfrey in the first round since he has withdrawn my first round vote would count for Liss-Riordan.  Basically, the ballot would be treated as if that candidate’s name did not appear.

Please share widely!
fb-share-icon
Tweet
0
0

Filed Under: User

Comments

  1. SomervilleTom says

    September 1, 2022 at 5:57 pm

    Whatever else happens, this is why I continue to prefer voting on election day.

    • Christopher says

      September 1, 2022 at 11:06 pm

      I can see the appeal too, but I certainly support more options for those who can’t and this year I will be spending all of polling hours helping a campaign in a neighboring district.

  2. methuenprogressive says

    September 2, 2022 at 6:59 pm

    It’s an early voting hazard, that’s for sure. but No, a thousand times No to ranked choice.

    • Christopher says

      September 2, 2022 at 7:46 pm

      What’s your objection to ranked choice? The benefits are it renders moot the spoiler possibility and elects people with whom the majority are at least OK with.

      • methuenprogressive says

        September 2, 2022 at 11:02 pm

        First, I reject the argument that voting for the candidate you want to win is a bad idea.

        Here’s a good explainer:

        https://electionscience.org/voting-methods/runoff-election-the-limits-of-ranked-choice-voting/

        • Christopher says

          September 3, 2022 at 9:30 pm

          No system is perfect, but I’m not convinced of all the premises in the linked article. I agree that voting for the candidate you want is not a bad idea, but argue that RCV actually facilitates that. Often people don’t vote for a minor candidate they really want out of fear that it will be a wasted vote or will spoiler in favor of their less favorite major candidate. With RCV you don’t need to worry about that and who knows? If enough people vote for the non-major party candidate because they feel they can maybe that candidate would end up winning. Plus even those who choose a major candidate first may pick a minor candidate second rather than the other major candidate, also improving that candidate’s chances. I stand by my position that RCV better reflects the consensus of the electorate in multi-candidate races than FPTP.

Recommended Posts

  • No posts liked yet.

Recent User Posts

Predictions Open Thread

December 22, 2022 By jconway

This is why I love Joe Biden

December 21, 2022 By fredrichlariccia

Garland’s Word

December 19, 2022 By terrymcginty

Some Parting Thoughts

December 19, 2022 By jconway

Beware the latest grift

December 16, 2022 By fredrichlariccia

Thank you, Blue Mass Group!

December 15, 2022 By methuenprogressive

Recent Comments

  • blueeyes on Beware the latest griftSo where to, then??
  • Christopher on Some Parting ThoughtsI've enjoyed our discussions as well (but we have yet to…
  • Christopher on Beware the latest griftI can't imagine anyone of our ilk not already on Twitter…
  • blueeyes on Beware the latest griftI will miss this site. Where are people going? Twitter?…
  • chrismatth on This site (will be disabled on) December 31, 2022I joined BMG late - 13 years ago next month and three da…
  • SomervilleTom on Geopolitics of FusionEVERY un-designed, un-built, and un-tested technology is…
  • Charley on the MTA on This site (will be disabled on) December 31, 2022That’s a great idea, and I’ll be there on Sunday. It’s a…

Archive

@bluemassgroup on Twitter

#mapoli

legislataapp Legislata @legislataapp ·
3h

Tweet summary for MA State House for 2023-03-19: 80 tweets from 30 legislators. Top words: breakfast, nickcollinsma, night, season, friend, celtics, patrick's, southie, basketball, call. #mapoli

Reply on Twitter 1637712320347492353 Retweet on Twitter 1637712320347492353 Like on Twitter 1637712320347492353 Twitter 1637712320347492353
mainenewshound mainenewshound @mainenewshound ·
5h

📛Breaking now Update-- MIAMI BEACH
UNCONTROLLABLE
#sunshinestate #mepolitics #mapoli #happeningnow #springbreak #florida
(video credit--visit-follow RAWSALERTS-tweeter)
🚨rampage this evening in Miami Florida

mainenewshound @mainenewshound

📛"State of Emergency Declared in Miami
Beach, #Florida, USA 27 Adar 5783– Mar 19, 2023 19 min. ago"
MORE:" city of #Miami Beach declared a state of emergency on Sunday..curfew from 11:59 pm to 6 am Monday after a weekend of deadly shootings"-TheJewishPress #mapoli #mepolitics

Reply on Twitter 1637671428811005952 Retweet on Twitter 1637671428811005952 Like on Twitter 1637671428811005952 Twitter 1637671428811005952
mickeyhitman @visualradioX @mickeyhitman ·
6h

Crooked #JuanitaFrauddrick loves criminal #Trump with Ivanka's Chinese Money and Jarad's Saudi Money, when you have to #falselyclaim a #president raped you for fame, and you are that fat and ugly, well, do the math She's a beast even Trump wouldn't #molest #mapoli So disgusting

Juanita Broaddrick @atensnut

Greatest President…. EVER!!!

Reply on Twitter 1637656201302253568 Retweet on Twitter 1637656201302253568 Like on Twitter 1637656201302253568 Twitter 1637656201302253568
mickeyhitman @visualradioX @mickeyhitman ·
6h

Juanita Frauddrick a sick #pathetic joke #Juanita is envious of Nancy, makes her infamy on smearing a great president like #BillClinton @CommunityMedia3 @medfordmedia #mapoli and is someone desperately in need of @JennyCraigAusNZ #JennyCraig #JuanitaBroadDRICK Expired 15 min fame

Juanita Broaddrick @atensnut

Oh give me a fucking break. You are one of the biggest crooks in Congress with your insider trading. And that drunk you’re married to should be in jail for all the DUI’s and wrecks he has caused. You’re not out of the woods yet, on your J6 scam, either. https://twitter.com/speakerpelosi/status/1637153439367962625

Reply on Twitter 1637654835972517888 Retweet on Twitter 1637654835972517888 Like on Twitter 1637654835972517888 Twitter 1637654835972517888
mainenewshound mainenewshound @mainenewshound ·
6h

Jackson, Mississippi is nearly 90% Black.
Very expensive to replace city water pipes.
But It would only cost a fraction of the money Democrats have given to Ukraine.
#blacklivesmatter #bostonma #mapoli #Mississippi

The Calvin Coolidge Project @TheCalvinCooli1

This is what tap water looks like in Jackson, Mississippi.

Reply on Twitter 1637653934125793281 Retweet on Twitter 1637653934125793281 Like on Twitter 1637653934125793281 1 Twitter 1637653934125793281
mainenewshound mainenewshound @mainenewshound ·
6h

Jackson, Mississippi is nearly 90% Black.
Very expensive to replace city water pipes.
But It would only cost a fraction of the money Democrats have given to Ukraine.
#blacklivesmatter #bostonma #mapoli

The Calvin Coolidge Project @TheCalvinCooli1

This is what tap water looks like in Jackson, Mississippi.

Reply on Twitter 1637653712268062721 Retweet on Twitter 1637653712268062721 Like on Twitter 1637653712268062721 Twitter 1637653712268062721
Load More

From our sponsors




Google Calendar







Search

Archives

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter




Copyright © 2023 Owned and operated by BMG Media Empire LLC. Read the terms of use. Some rights reserved.