[EL] "How to Keep Extremists out of Power"

[Graeme Orr]

Australia has over a century of use of RCV (aka IRV, STV, preferential
voting).
Both with 'optional' preferential voting - where a valid vote just needs a
'1' but can include other rankings.
And with 'full' preferential voting - where a valid vote requires a full
ranking.   A system I assume might be incompatible with US norms, if not
constitution.
In either case, we've always used the 'eliminate candidate with fewest
first preferences' first etc rule.  Not the Coombs' approach.

1.   RCV has been a centrising force.   Admittedly this claim is confounded
by compulsory turnout laws, an even more 'c'onservative and centrising.

2.   We need to think of the system dynamically.   Australian parties spend
significant time and money, making and advertising preference
recommendations.    This is a good thing, to the extent it gives smaller
parties (eg Greens) some leverage.   This is a bad thing if such deals are
ever corrupted. Or where they seek to game the system rather than be based
on party assessments of which other parties are sympatico.    The Coombs
method invites some very complex gaming.  Eg in the example given earlier,
the AOC and Trump 'extremes' would have an interest in encouraging their
supporters to put centrist candidate/s last.
Second, the system of optional preferences - ie the one so far used in US -
discourages splits.  Because it *can* in some instances act like first past
the post.   So in my home state, a move from requiring full preferences to
optional preferences eventually helped convince the 'Republican' Liberal
Party and the Trumpier 'National' Party to unite.
3.   RCV is nothing like proportional representation.    What it does do is
genuinely allow third and smaller parties to play, without the 'oh no I
voted Nader and got Bush' fear.

That said, our parties, sans primaries, are more robust and Westminsterish
than US parties...   So the calculations are more complex to begin with in
the US where candidates matter more.

Graeme Orr
Professor, UQ Law School
Australia
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