By Mark Bauer
Picture this: the Sistine Chapel doors swing shut, cardinals take their seats, and the world holds its breath. White smoke puffs out … then another puff … then another. By Day Three, viewers at home are convinced their Wi-Fi is buffering.
What if, instead of burning through ballots, they borrowed a page from modern democracy movements, like ranked choice voting (RCV)? You’d have a new pope faster than you can say “Habemus Papam.” (for the uninitiated, that’s not a Harry Potter spell, it’s Latin for “We have a pope.”)
From Single Picks to Smart Picks
Yes, the conclave is dripping in centuries-old ritual: the red hats, the Latin chants, the secret oaths. But even grand traditions can benefit from a little tune-up. In the traditional conclave, each cardinal writes down one name and then they count ballots. If no one hits that two-thirds magic number, ballots go up in smoke. Negotiations spill into secret whispers in the corridors, then it starts all over again, day after endless day.
Ranked choice voting is like giving each cardinal a mini “Top Picks” list: first choice, second choice, third choice, and so on. If your first pick doesn’t have enough support, your vote automatically shifts to your next vote. No reruns. No extra drama. And certainly no more napping in the pews.
After a few rounds, someone finally tops 67%. The white smoke? Instant. The bells? Ringing. The new pope? Announced before evening antipasto.
Why “Everyman” RCV Makes Sense
Let’s be honest: we’ve all been stuck in meetings that drag on because everyone has one vote and refuses to budge. You know the scene—after the fourth coffee refill, you’d vote for a paperclip if it meant going home sooner. RCV solves that in real life, too. Cities like Minneapolis and Santa Fe use it, turning elections that used to feel like slow-mo reruns into quick, decisive victories.
The goal of the conclave is unity under one shepherd, and nobody wants that shepherd drawn out like a slow Sunday sermon. With ranked choice voting, you’d get through the process without packing extra robes for an extended stay. The faithful get a new pope, the cardinals get back to daily duties, and the world gets an end to the smoke-signal suspense.
So here’s to mixing a little democracy into divine selection. Let’s keep the pageantry—and lose the delays. Habemus Papam … and lots of free time afterward!
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This post was generated by AI and edited by the author. The opinions expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of Rank the Vote.
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Mark Bauer is a producer, entrepreneur, day trader and former Independent candidate for Congress in Texas. Previously he spent 10 years as a legal journalist covering the legal market in Texas and regulatory issues in Washington DC.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Rank the Vote, its members, supporters, funders, or affiliates.
