Instant Run-Off Voting Side, Research Paper Example

Instant Run-Off Voting Side

Voting systems is an ensemble of rules, procedures and equipments that are used in a voting process. In most democratic nations across the world, leaders are elected through voting systems that see the citizens of a country elect the best leader of their choice. In the United States and other western democracies voting system take the forms of plurality and instant run-off systems. This excerpt will deduce the reasons why United States should shift to the instant run-off system instead of plurality system.

Plurality voting system is the type of voting system where contestant who garners the most votes is declared the winner. While in an instant run-off system is an approach which gives voters the opportunity to rate candidates from the first to the last in the ranking sequence according to their inclinations. In an instant run-off system the winning candidate must obtain the majority of the first place votes unless the process proceeds to an elimination process. The process continues to second counting of the votes where the contestant with the fewest first place votes is eliminated from the votes. The elimination process continues until the candidate with the significant majority is declared the winner (David, 121).

Instant run-off system stand the better chance to reduce administrative expenses incurred in conducting election. This is in the light of the fact that only one election is done to determine the winner instead of going through a run off system. Many states in the United States for instance have incurred a lot of expenses in conducting run off systems. Adoptions of an instant run-off system will resources being allocated for only one election process instead of two. The candidates will also experience a reduction in the cost of campaign and hence reduce reliance on contributors; the candidates will have an ample opportunity to prepare for only one election process (Stephen, & Wayne, 67).

Employing an instant run-off system also enhances efficiency in the election process since it uses most recent technological advancements that have the advantages of reducing the manual hand count used in the plurality system. It will thus save time and elections would be conducted with a lot of ease.

Research shows that implementation of the instant run-off system will likely increase the voter turnout. Authors in this field argue that plurality experiences low voter turn out as most voters prefer not to vote because they fear that the candidate of their choice may be defeated thus giving an upper hand to their rivals. However, an instant run-off system can encourage these voters as their preferred candidate may win the elections when it goes to the elimination process. Countries like Australia and Malta are strong witnesses of this assertion, for instance in Malta the election process witnessed an increased turn out with the implementation of the instant run-off system (Rob & Kleppner, 201).

The system has the potential capability of increasing the pace of political competition and strengthening political parties as compared to plurality system. Reduced competition among the political parties is a recipe has subsequent decline in the interest of the electorates to participate in the political activities. Research shows that in most political setting a cross the world weaker political parties diminishes the interest of the electorate to participate in the political affairs of the state. Political reforms should embrace the enactment of instant run-off system to invigorate the interest of electorates in political parties

Works cited

David , Instant Runoff Backers Differ with Sorrell, times argus (Montpelier, Vt.), Feb. 27, 2009.

Stephen, & Wayne, is this any way to run a democratic election?: debating american electoral politics 50 2d ed. 2008.

Rob & Kleppner, for Voting & Democracy, Impact of U.S. Runoff Elections on Racial Minorities and Women: An Analysis and Comparison with Instant Runoff Voting 2007