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Cumulative voting is one of the many different methods used to determine the outcome of an election. Depending on the situation, some voting systems are more appropriate than others. For example, when do you use cumulative voting vs. straight voting?  Cumulative voting can be a more complicated way of determining the winner of an ele

Running elections is more than announcing the most popular nominee as the winner. There are, in fact, several ways that you can count votes to determine an election outcome. Straight and cumulative voting are two examples. You can also calculate elections using plurality versus majority voting methods.  Cumulative voting is a commonl

Most people understand the importance of the right to vote. After all, how else will those in power hear the opinions and wishes of those they are supposed to serve?  Yet, voting and elections are more than simply choosing a leader from two candidates. Voting and elections can declare winners in many different scenarios. For [&hellip

Approval voting is a single-winner voting system that enables voters to cast their ballot for any number of candidates, and the one with the most votes wins. However, no system is infallible, so we can expect approval voting to have its own set of pros and cons. Understanding Approval Voting Within The Electoral Process As […]

Electoral reform is a hot topic in the United States these days. Even though ranked-choice voting is receiving the most attention, approval voting advocates are still doing all they can to gain some traction. So, what is the difference between these two forms of voting systems? The following information is intended to address this questio

Approval voting refers to a single-winner system. Each voter may choose; or approve any number of candidates running for office, and the one with the highest number of votes becomes the winner. The ballot on which voters can mark several candidates is an approval ballot. The use of this kind of ballot is what makes […]

For anyone living or operating in a democracy, understanding what a recall, referendum, and initiative are is essential. These are electoral devices that empower people to participate in government activities, especially legislation.  A referendum, in particular, allows direct voting on matters of political importance. With the refer

Recall, referendum and initiative processes are electoral devices used by citizens when they want to take part in government activities. A recall allows people to remove public officials from office, while referendum voting and initiatives allow citizens to propose, approve, or veto specific legislation. Let’s break down each to underst

Our involvement in politics doesn’t begin or end with the presidential ballot. When politicians take their positions, proposing legislation on our behalf, voters continue to play a vital role in government. That’s how democracy works.  Suppose we’re dissatisfied with the government. Or, maybe the government needs public approva

Democracy has long been a political idea that many countries have woven into their societal structure. However, the system and procedures to implement a country’s democratic wishes differ from nation to nation. In practice, there are various voting systems to award election winners.  Two standard voting systems are the plurality vo

Democracy is a fantastic theoretical idea successfully implemented by many societies across the globe. To put it in place, though, you need to guarantee that you can run a fair election first, regardless of your intention or purpose. From voting for the president of the United States to voting for the chairperson of your local […]

Majority and plurality voting systems are two of the most common you will find globally. If you live in a democratic country, the likelihood is that you will vote underneath one of these systems when choosing an elected official in some way.  Yet, there are critical differences between plurality and majority voting systems that are [

Ranked choice voting.

One-factor, two-factor, red-factor, blue-factor. When voting it is reasonable to worry about the security of someone's vote. How can we ensure that not just anyone uses a voter's access key from an email, postcard, or text message? Thankfully there is a way to ensure that other voters do not use someone else's access key to […]