Pushing smarter voting methods has the potential to change lives in the world at a fundamental level. There are few opportunities for this level of impact.
Aaron Hamlin articles
Aaron Hamlin is the executive director and co-founder of the Center for Election Science. Working from Ohio, he's been consulted on voting procedures for small to large organizations and publicly elected officials in several states. He's been published in numerous outlets and has been invited as an expert speaker at conferences across the country. Aaron is also a licensed attorney with additional graduate degrees from Indiana University and Miami University.
2017 French Presidential Elections: Do They Do It Better?
We’ve seen a different picture of French elections under alternative voting methods before. Fortunately, we’ll all get another look as an alternative voting method analysis is again underway.
The Majority Illusion: What Voting Methods Can and Cannot Do
If a candidate gets elected that is both not preferred by a majority, then you’ve got a problem. A voting method that regularly makes that bad decision is not a voting method you want.
Remembering Kenneth Arrow and His Impossibility Theorem
When the alternative is to continue using the worst voting method—plurality voting—there is little risk experimenting. Clearly, Dr. Arrow wanted us to have better.
AUDIO: My Discussion With Radio Host Kevin Willett
Host Kevin Willett is joined by Aaron Hamlin of The Center for Election Science. They promote better collective decisions in settings ranging from civic organizations to government bodies.
Honest Voters Had a Preference in 2016 Elections
We can’t expect honest voters. It’s proven that there’s always some incentive to be tactical. But what we can do is see how certain voting methods encourage voters to be honest.
Smarter Elections 2016: Approval Versus Plurality
Our polling results revealed that, with the approval voting method, third-party candidates would have received a LOT more support than what we saw in the actual election—which used the plurality voting method.
A Blueprint To Good Presidential Elections
A presidential election with approval voting would be completely unlike what you’ve seen. Being able to choose as many candidates as you want permits you to always vote your favorite. No matter what.
On Maine’s Ranked Choice Voting: Anything But Plurality
Imagine each voting method as a job candidate. You want to hire the best one. RCV is roughly your C-hire, a mixed record that carries some baggage. Plurality voting is a solid F-hire with a long list of terrible references.
An Interview Explaining Our Landmark Polling Study
One reason we have such terrible ballot access laws in the United States is because we use a voting method that is extremely sensitive to the spoiler effect