| Samuel T. Lair | The Nevada Independent |
A significant reason why no third-party candidate is likely to succeed under our current system is that they naturally appeal to the voters of one party over the other. As a result, a popular third-party candidate is more likely to play spoiler to a candidate from an established political party than win election themselves. This problem is exacerbated by our first-past-the-post system, which provides that whatever candidate receives the most votes wins election, even if that candidate fails to receive a majority. Therefore, whenever there is a three or more-man race, our current system incentivizes voters to cast their ballot for an established party candidate who only moderately represents a voter’s views or interests, as opposed to the candidate the voter actually prefers, to prevent the election of the candidate or party the voter is most strongly opposed to.
”We have been deprived of the basic right not to be governed without the consent of the greater portion of our fellow citizens.
Fortunately, by implementing a ranked-choice voting system, the proposed reform will free voters to support independent candidates without the fear of aiding another party. To this end, Nevadan’s can expect the new system to result in a diverse field of candidates more capable of producing a system of representation consistent with the sentiments and interests of a true majority.
As of late, we have been deprived of the basic right not to be governed without the consent of the greater portion of our fellow citizens. With this proposed reform, however, the opportunity to restore this fundamental right is before us. I heartily urge all Nevadans who wish to re-adhere our government to the noble principles of democracy to support the initiative and forever abolishing minority rule in our great state.
Samuel T. Lair is a Ph.D. student at the Hillsdale College Van Andel School of Statesmanship. He is a former research associate for the Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities at UNR and a former field staffer for the Nevada Republican Party.
