• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
  • WORLD DEMOCRACY
  • POLITICAL ART
  • more
    • election technology
    • money politics
    • political dissidents
    • THIRD PARTY
      • third party central
      • green party
      • justice party
      • libertarian party
    • voting methods
  • DC INFO
    • author central
    • about
    • advertise with DC
    • contact
    • privacy policy

Democracy Chronicles

INTERVIEW: Redistricting, Vote Splitting and Honest Voting

By Adrian Tawfik - May 31, 2012 Leave a Comment

FacebookTweetLinkedInPin

Vote Splitting and Honest Voting Strategies

Election-Method Expert Discusses Election Methodology Theory, the Possibilities For Serious Reform in America, Vote Splitting and Honest Voting Strategies

In continuation of Democracy Chronicles’ series of interviews with prominent members involved with “The Declaration of Election-Method Reform Advocates“, we now turn to Andrew Jennings, Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of the Center for Election Science.  Mr. Jennings is a resident of Mesa, Arizona.

In the “About Us” section of the Center for Election Science website, Mr. Jennings is described as follows:

“Andy was born and raised in Mesa, Arizona. He did his undergraduate work in mathematics at Arizona State University. Andy continued at Arizona State when in 2010 he completed his Ph.D. in mathematics. Given his strong interest in voting theory, Andy did his dissertation on the concepts of monotonicity and gaming in both ordinal- and cardinal-class voting systems.  Andy continues to live near his roots in Mesa, Arizona. He is also the founder of Shoptivate.com, a software company that sells search solutions for e-commerce sites.”

Mr. Jennings discusses election reform in the United States as well as voting methodology.


Democracy Chronicles founder Adrian Tawfik conducted an exclusive interview series with an international group of election method proponents including prominent signers of the Declaration of Election-Method Reform Advocates. The best place to start off is the Democracy Chronicles introduction and then take a look at each of these interviews:

  • Richard Fobes – Election Method Reformer Speaks With DC 
  • Aaron Hamlin – Interview With President of Center for Election Science
  • Andrew Jennings – Redistricting, Vote Splitting and Honest Voting
  • augustin – Writer Discusses Election Reform and New Website
  • Michael Allen – Election Method Reformer Seeks Radical Changes 
  • Jameson Quinn – Election Expert Discusses Reform in US and Guatemala
  • Michael Ossipoff – Democracy Chronicles Author Discusses Approval Voting
  • Robert Bristow-Johnson – Expert Demands Reducing Money in Elections

Also see the DC Interview With Creator of Wooden Models of Voting Methods with artist Peter A. Taylor. 

Interview with Andrew Jennings:

Democracy Chronicles: What characteristics do you think are most important for a voting method to have? How does it deal with Vote Splitting and Honest Voting?

The process should allow many good candidates to run without splitting the vote and the voting process should match up pretty well with the thought process voters use to evaluate the candidates.

Never require voters to betray favorites.  If I think John Doe is the absolute best candidate in the world to for US president, then usually John Doe isn’t in the race.  But if he were, even as a third-party candidate or an independent and he had no chance of winning, I should be able to rank him first or give him the highest grade without compromising my voice among the other contenders.

It should allow, even encourage, honest voting, if possible.  Voting is so much easier if you don’t have to worry about being strategic, and society is much happier if people don’t feel like their opponents cheated to win.  Candidates should come out of the election with a societal grade, so they really know whether they have a mandate, and so everyone feels like their vote counts by having some effect on the final scores, however small.

Democracy Chronicles: What do you think is the most important election reform needed where you live (either locally or nationally)?  Why is this reform important?

Both locally and nationally, we need a system that allows many good candidates to run.  One that doesn’t encourage politics of fear.

Democracy Chronicles: What is your opinion on other aspects of election reform such as reforming money’s role in politics or redistricting?

I wish there were some way to reform money’s role in politics, but I’m afraid it’s impossible.   Politicians have power and money naturally flows downhill toward power.  Whatever roadblocks we establish for businesses trying to influence politicians, the money will find a way around them.  I think the only answer is to try to decrease the power of big government and bring all important decisions back to the local level.  Unfortunately, government power and responsibility is much easier to ratchet up than to ratchet down.

On Vote Splitting and Redistricting

As for redistricting, for a jurisdiction with two legislative bodies, like the United States or Arizona, I think one body should be elected with a proportional voting system that ignores geography.  The other body can use districting, but it should be done by computer (with an algorithm like shortest splitline) or with a public contest and a predefined rule (anyone can submit maps and the one with the lowest total perimeter wins).  We should minimize or eliminate all human judgment in the redistricting process.  A non-partisan committee is not good enough.

FacebookTweetLinkedInPin

Filed Under: American Democracy Originals Tagged With: Election Methods, Redistricting

About Adrian Tawfik

Democracy Chronicles has been run by Founder and Editor-in-Chief Adrian Tawfik since 2011. He received a B.A. from New School University and is based in New York City where he built DC from the ground up. See Adrian's Opinion Column for a sampling of Adrian's personal views and browse his hundreds of original political memes. Also take a look at the rest of our international team of authors.

Some highlighted Democracy Chronicles topics

Africa American Corruption American Local Elections American State Elections Asia Capitalism and Big Business Celebrity Politics China Democracy Charity Democracy Protests Democrats Dictatorships Education Election History Election Methods Election Security Election Transparency Europe Internet and Democracy Journalism and Free Speech Middle East Minority Voting Rights Money Politics New York City and State Elections Political Artwork Political Dissidents Political Lobbying Redistricting Republicans Russia Socialism and Labor Social Media and Democracy South America Spying and Privacy Supreme Court Third Party Voter Access Voter ID Voter Registration Voter Suppression Voter Turnout Voting Technology Women Voting Rights Worldwide Worldwide Corruption

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Home | American Democracy Originals | INTERVIEW: Redistricting, Vote Splitting and Honest Voting

Primary Sidebar

Advertise button

There Are Two Competing Narratives About The 2020 Election

By Steve Schneider March 7, 2021

Unless all of our presidential elections have been rigged to varying degrees, narratives of rigged and stable elections are false.

There Won’t be Another Chance to Hold Biden’s Feet to the Fire

By Jack Jones March 4, 2021

If we want to live in a somewhat decent country we must start to hold our president’s feet to the fire. We just can’t go along and complain.

democracy chronicles newsletter

DC AUTHORS

Podcast: Anne Applebaum On Why Democracy Is Not Inevitable

By Jenna Spinelle March 4, 2021

Journalist, author, and historian Anne Applebaum says that democracy is not like running water — something that we know will always be there.

On the Attitudes of Our Leaders

By Jack Jones February 22, 2021

Donald Trump Jr. standing in front of a wall of handguns with scopes is a clear threat that should not be tolerated.

Cruz Flies to Mexico While Abbott Spreads False Information

By Steve Schneider February 19, 2021

Where were Texas leaders when an Arctic chill spread across Texas, depriving power to millions? Senator Ted Cruz got on a plane for Mexico.

I made it to 77

By Julio César Guerrero February 14, 2021

We learned a lot from him. Perhaps the best lesson was that while there is life there is hope. Constantino Coronel inspires new generations of activists.

Parkland School Shooting Widow Speaks About Rep. Greene

By Steve Schneider February 13, 2021

Sunday is the 3rd anniversary of the Parkland school shooting. Debbi Hixon who lost her husband Chris in the shooting speaks about Rep. Greene.

Trickling Down to Right-Wing Fascism

By Jack Jones February 9, 2021

The Rich and greedy have always wanted more and they won’t stop. That’s why they hate it when we regulate anything for the good of the country.

Court Rules Therapists Have Right to Offer Conversion Therapy

By Steve Schneider February 3, 2021

A three-judge federal panel recently green-lighted a controversial form of treatment for minors despite opposition.

MORE FROM OUR AUTHORS

VISIT OUR POLITICAL ART SECTION:

dc political art

DEMOCRACY CULTURE

Artists Unite to Support Human Rights Watch

Artists Unite to Support Human Rights Watch

March 6, 2021

Today, a collective of contemporary artists whose works address contemporary issues announced an auction to support Human Rights Watch.

LeBron James Promotes Voting Rights at the N.B.A. All-Star Game

LeBron James Promotes Voting Rights at the N.B.A. All-Star Game

March 5, 2021

During this weekend’s All-Star Game in Atlanta, the NBA is partnering with an organization formed by LeBron James to vitalize voting rights.

Rapper Common To Produce Biopic On Voting Activist Fannie Lou Hamer

Rapper Common To Produce Biopic On Voting Activist Fannie Lou Hamer

March 1, 2021

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, who is known by his stage name Common is set to produce a biopic on civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer.

Study: Nature’s Power To Awe Might Reduce Political Polarization

Study: Nature’s Power To Awe Might Reduce Political Polarization

February 28, 2021

According to new findings in psychology, by using nature’s scenes to induce a sense of awe we can reduce political polarization.

Formula 1's Lewis Hamilton Stand for Saudi Rights

Will Formula 1’s Lewis Hamilton Stand for Saudi Rights?

February 27, 2021

Lewis Hamilton asked to reconsider participation in the upcoming race being hosted in Saudi Arabia in 2021.

MORE CULTURE

VISIT OUR US DEMOCRACY SECTION:

American Democracy