Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has reignited his campaign to abolish general election runoffs in the Peach State. He is advocating for a change in the state’s election system, arguing that runoffs are unnecessary and add an extra layer of cost and stress to the electoral process.
Raffensperger makes several arguments in favor of ending runoffs:
- Cost: Runoffs add millions of dollars to the state’s election budget, a burden that Raffensperger believes could be better allocated elsewhere.
- Voter fatigue: Holding two elections close together can disenfranchise voters, leading to lower turnout in the runoff.
- Uncertainty: Runoffs can create a period of political limbo, delaying the finalization of election results.
Raffensperger proposes two alternative systems to replace runoffs:
- Instant runoff voting (IRV): In IRV, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates based on voters’ next choices. This process continues until one candidate reaches a majority.
- Top two system: In the top two system, only the two candidates with the most votes in the general election advance to the runoff. This system is simpler than IRV but could potentially lead to a general election where neither candidate represents a majority of voters.
Raffensperger’s proposal faces opposition from some lawmakers and voting rights groups. Critics argue that IRV is too complex for voters to understand and that the top two system could disenfranchise minority voters. Additionally, changing the state’s election system would require a constitutional amendment, which would need to be approved by both houses of the Georgia legislature and then by voters in a statewide referendum.
Whether or not Georgia abolishes general election runoffs remains to be seen. The issue is likely to be hotly debated in the coming months and years. However, Raffensperger’s renewed call for change has put the spotlight on the issue and could lead to significant reforms in the state’s election system.
