The case for IRV

Former independent candidate for President, John Anderson, recently published an op-ed in the Christian Science Monitor calling for Instant Run-off voting.

Anderson, who was regarded by some as a "spoiler" in Ronald Reagan's defeat of Jimmy Carter in 1980, lays out the basic problem with the current system of elections in the United States:

General elections should be a marketplace of innovative ideas, and independent and third-party candidates can prevent them from becoming a showcase for an overly narrow ideological duopoly. Yet such candidates are pilloried for trying to break the red-blue grip and add a fresh voice to the debate.

It is unfortunate that independent candidates must face these attacks when about one-third of Americans are not registered with a major party. Throw in their distorted nomination process, and it becomes painfully obvious why so many people feel frustrated with electoral politics.

Anderson rightly points out that major political parties can use IRV to defend their status at the ballot rather than through machinations intended to keep independent and 3rd party candidates off of the ballot:

By supporting IRV, Democrats and Republicans can defend their majority status at the polls rather than through machinations over access to ballots and debates. Perhaps some fear this system would encourage third parties to flourish, but third-party and independent candidates already are part of the political system, and they are only likely to grow in support given the increasing apathy toward the major parties.

Read the full op-ed here