To: The Massachusetts State House, The Massachusetts State Senate, and Governor Charlie Baker
Requiring a majority in elections
In primary and general elections with more than 2 candidates running, when no candidate achieves a majority, require a second, runoff election between the top two votegetters, to be held 2-4 weeks after the first election.
Why is this important?
Martha Coakley is the Democratic Party nominee for governor despite getting less than half the votes! Would she have won in a 2-person race? Candidates are frequently elected with fewer than 50% of the votes, often because the majority was split among competing candidates with relatively similar positions. In 2000, more people voted for Al Gore and Ralph Nader than did for George Bush.
Many people feel that votes for other than the two frontrunners are "thrown away". Those votes should count! Requiring a majority, assuring us another chance in the absence of that majority, would encourage us to vote for our first choice, even if that candidate is a "long shot". A runoff system could encourage more voting by people who now believe their vote doesn't matter.
Many people feel that votes for other than the two frontrunners are "thrown away". Those votes should count! Requiring a majority, assuring us another chance in the absence of that majority, would encourage us to vote for our first choice, even if that candidate is a "long shot". A runoff system could encourage more voting by people who now believe their vote doesn't matter.