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Doug G's avatar

I have a question about ranked choice voting -- RCV-- (which has made me queasy for some time), and forgive my being ill-informed and possibly paranoid: How does RCV work in the case of hand recounts? It's easy enough (though laborious) to recount single votes, but having to tabulate 2nd or more choices adds complexity.

My paranoia comes from my deep distrust of electronic systems which can be hacked (look at how voting machines were stolen in AZ and I believe GA in 2020 by those pretending to be concerned with vote-rigging.) Hand recounts in both states proved the election wasn't stolen; would RCV complicate or muddy the data?

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Mary Hardt's avatar

Doug, the recount would be more extensive since it would be multilayered, with the loser’s votes being reallocated to their 2nd choice candidate. Perhaps, to make things easier, there could be multiple stacks for A’s votes depending on the choices: Ab, Ac, Ad, etc. then Ba, Bc, Bd…

I think that ranked choice would result in less-partisan candidates and, eventually, in fewer recounts due to partisanship “If I lost, it must be because the vote was rigged!” As I recall, 50 years ago, recounts were rare; now they’re a standard part of election denialism.

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Doug G's avatar

True, Mary, but such recounts also serve to prove election integrity. Georgia was forced to count votes THREE TIMES, and each recount showed Biden won.

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Mary Hardt's avatar

Doug, the first recount showed integrity. I believe that the second and third were for partisan (“I can’t believe I lost—it must be rigged”) reasons.

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Doug G's avatar

Kathy, I'm trying to understand who or what you're saying no to. Can you please clarify?

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Kathy Clark's avatar

would RCV complicate or muddy the data?

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