The one thing most Texas can seem to agree on is that they don’t think Rick Perry should be governor. But with five candidates in the race & plurality voting, he’s the front runner.

Why don’t we insist on runoffs for all elections? Sure, instant runoff would be even better, but why aren’t we even using a runoff system?

A plurality system isn’t in anyone’s best interest. While it may be Rick Perry’s best chance for winning this election, it’s also his biggest threat. It’s the independant née Republican candidate potentially splitting the Republican vote that gives Chris Bell a chance & makes this an interesting race. Tomorrow morning, we may have a winner, but we won’t be any closer to knowing who the majority of Texans would really prefer.

Besides bookies & other disinterested third parties, there’s only one reason for preferring plurality over a runoff: Because the Republicans & Democrates are more afraid of a third-party winning than they are of losing. That seems unlikely to me, but I have a hard time understanding why Republicans & Democrates use runoffs for their own primaries yet seem unconcerned that the real elections are by plurality.

last updated 1 year ago #