#1The Rhode Island Electoral System in Comparative Perspective Adam S. Myers Presentation to the RI Senate Alternative Voting Systems Study Commission March 1, 2023#2CLASSIFYING DEMOCRATIC ELECTORAL SYSTEMS DEMOCRATIC ELECTORAL SYSTEMS MAJORITARIAN PROPORTIONAL#3CLASSIFYING DEMOCRATIC ELECTORAL SYSTEMS DEMOCRATIC ELECTORAL SYSTEMS MAJORITARIAN ABSOLUTE PLURALITY MAJORITY PROPORTIONAL#4CLASSIFYING DEMOCRATIC ELECTORAL SYSTEMS DEMOCRATIC ELECTORAL SYSTEMS MAJORITARIAN PLURALITY ABSOLUTE MAJORITY PROPORTIONAL RANKED-CHOICE RUNOFF ELECTIONS VOTING#5ELECTORAL PROCESS BY STATE: PRIMARY ELECTIONS Party primary with plurality winner Party primary with absolute majority requirement (runoff potential) Party primary with ranked-choice voting Non-partisan primary - top two advance Non-partisan primary - top four advance NOTE: IN SOME STATES, THE ELECTORAL PROCESS VARIES BY OFFICE. THE MAP ABOVE SHOWS THE PROCESS FOR CONGRESSIONAL RACES.#6ELECTORAL PROCESS BY STATE: GENERAL ELECTIONS Party nominees compete with plurality winner Party nominees compete with absolute majority requirement (runoff potential) Party nominees compete with ranked-choice voting Top 2 candidates from non-partisan primary compete Top 4 candidates from ☐ non-partisan primary compete with ranked-choice voting NOTE: IN SOME STATES, THE ELECTORAL PROCESS VARIES BY OFFICE. THE MAP ABOVE SHOWS THE PROCESS FOR CONGRESSIONAL RACES.#7WHAT COMPARING ACROSS STATES TELLS US ABOUT RHODE ISLAND'S ELECTORAL SYSTEM . Rhode Island's current electoral system is very much in line with those of other states. HOPE#8WHAT COMPARING ACROSS STATES TELLS US ABOUT RHODE ISLAND'S ELECTORAL SYSTEM . Rhode Island's current electoral system is very much in line with those of other states. • What is unusual about Rhode Island elections is not our electoral system, but rather the way our electoral system interacts with our party system. HOPE#9OPTIONS FOR RHODE ISLAND BASED ON WHAT OTHER STATES HAVE DONE • The Georgia Model . Party primaries and general elections with absolute majority requirement and runoff potential.#10OPTIONS FOR RHODE ISLAND BASED ON WHAT OTHER STATES HAVE DONE • The Georgia Model . Party primaries and general elections with absolute majority requirement and runoff potential. • The Texas Model • Party primaries with absolute majority requirement and runoff potential; general elections via plurality.#11OPTIONS FOR RHODE ISLAND BASED ON . WHAT OTHER STATES HAVE DONE • The Georgia Model . Party primaries and general elections with absolute majority requirement and runoff potential. • The Texas Model Party primaries with absolute majority requirement and runoff potential; general elections via plurality. The Maine Model DIAGO MAINE • Party primaries and general elections with ranked-choice voting#12OPTIONS FOR RHODE ISLAND BASED ON WHAT OTHER STATES HAVE DONE • The Georgia Model . Party primaries and general elections with absolute majority requirement and runoff potential. • The Texas Model . Party primaries with absolute majority requirement and runoff potential; general elections via plurality. The Maine Model • Party primaries and general elections with ranked-choice voting • The California Model • Non-partisan primaries followed by top-two general elections CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC#13OPTIONS FOR RHODE ISLAND BASED ON WHAT OTHER STATES HAVE DONE • The Georgia Model . Party primaries and general elections with absolute majority requirement and runoff potential. • The Texas Model . Party primaries with absolute majority requirement and runoff potential; general elections via plurality. The Maine Model • Party primaries and general elections with ranked-choice voting • The California Model • Non-partisan primaries followed by top-two general elections • The Alaska Model Non-partisan primaries followed by top-four general elections with ranked-choice voting#14ADDITIONAL OPTIONS BASED ON WHAT SOME MUNICIPALITIES HAVE DONE Single transferable vote (Cambridge, MA) 04#15ADDITIONAL OPTIONS BASED ON WHAT SOME MUNICIPALITIES HAVE DONE Single transferable vote (Cambridge, MA) • Approval voting plus top-two runoff (St. Louis, MO)#16Issues to Consider in Assessing Voting Systems Implications for turnout Voter understanding of the process Socioeconomic differences in use of new voting methods Voter faith in the process Implications for candidate strategy and outcomes in government Cost of adopting new voting systems#17THANK YOU!