2012 U.S. Presidential Election

[Captain Blackadder]

All this talk of "wasting" votes to me could be solved by a preferential voting system? Any Americans have any reason why a preferential voting system would be a bad thing?

[a completely inoffensive name]

All this talk of "wasting" votes to me could be solved by a preferential voting system? Any Americans have any reason why a preferential voting system would be a bad thing?

Tradition. Those who pick the president are no longer the moderate swing voters but the extremists who vote for the Nazi, Communist, Green parties. If all their votes amounted to 1-3% of the voting population, then they would be effectively deciding the winner and thus would be catered to.

I don't necessarily agree with these arguments, but I have heard them be made before.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

The only people I've heard complain about our system are those too extreme to find either party acceptable.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Orly? If you disagree, you're extreme? That's your stance?

No. That's just how it's turned out so far.

I should add, also those who are die-hard cynics.

[Papewaio]

Preferential voting means no dead votes and influences the mandates of the big parties in Australia.

Say for US it meant you directly preferential vote for your candidate.

You could vote
Independent 1
Romney 2
Cain 3
Obama 4

Votes are totaled up. If no one has a majority the lowest scoring candidate gets removed.

Your favourite indie fails. Your preferential vote goes to #2.

Say at this point Romney wins. A lot of votes he gained were from the indie. Here in Aus the candidates adapt and will generally bring in a few of the ideas from candidates they gained votes from... Mainly to shore up their votes in the next election cycle.

Probably have a bigger impact on congress as it would mean voters would be more Willing to vote for long shots they agree with, and have the insurance that their vote will still count against a disliked candidate.