Voting systems combine different balloting strategies with procedures and rules. A simple way to introduce approval voting (AV) to people conversant with the plurality system is to use the slogan ‘count all the votes.’ This means that overvotes are legal, and every vote is counted.
If you are looking for a simple voting system, AV is the current method you can use and works on the modern voting equipment without the need for reprogramming and modification. In the US, this system’s case is practically strong in the non-partisan and primary election that draws large fields of candidates. Today, the voting system has more advantages than other procedures; some of these are:
- Helps in Electing an Ideal Candidate
These days, candidates who are given support by the largest minority usually wins. In particular, ‘Condorcet candidate,’ who may defeat other aspirants in a pairwise contest, will win under the AV system.
- Makes Things More Practicable
Unlike other complicated systems that go through practical and theoretical problems, AV is easy for many voters to use and understand. Although many votes should be tallied under this system, you can implement AV on different voting machines. Since the system doesn’t go against the US’s constitutions and laws, it only needs a simple decree to have an enactment.
- Gives Aspirants a Fair Election
Minority candidates don’t suffer under this system, and their supporters will no longer be torn away because there is another aspirant who is much stronger. Since AV allows supporters to elect both candidates, it would be difficult to get tempted to do away with the weaker aspirants in the elections. Because of that, elections will be fair and free to candidates.
- Reduces the Negativity in Campaigns
The best thing about AV is that it induces contenders to pay attention to the views of both the majority and minority of voters. This reduces the negativity in campaigns because aspirants will have incentives to gain more approvals from voters. However, criticizing views from voters can make candidates lose their approval.
- Offers Voters Flexible Options
It’s possible for voters to have more than one favorite. In contrast with plurality voting, where voters must choose one candidate, AV offers more options to voters who have no strong preference for a single aspirant. This means that voters can elect every candidate they find favorable. Beyond that, if a preferred aspirant has little chances of winning elections, voters may go for their first choice and still choose a more viable person without making their votes go to waste.
- Improves the Turnout of Voters
Voters who cannot decide on the right candidate or think that they may be wasting their votes, no longer have to despair about coming up with a decision. This is because AV offers such voters a choice of being honest and may encourage greater participation in the polls.
Concluding Remarks!
AV remains to be a simple voting system that people use to find consensus choices when it comes to single-winner polls. Good societies should be majoritarian in their choice for leaders, and AV is one system that can make leaders respond to minority views.