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Has any country switched to a new voting system and how did it affect their elections?

Rohan Yoseloff

Yes, there have been several countries that have switched to new voting systems and it has had varying effects on their elections.

One recent example is the city of London in the UK, which introduced a new voting system for their mayoral election in 2016. The system, known as the Supplementary Vote, allows voters to rank their first and second choice candidates. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the first choice votes, the two candidates with the most first choice votes move on to a second round where voters' second choice votes are counted.

While the new system was intended to increase voter turnout and make the election more democratic, it was met with mixed results. Voter turnout did increase slightly, but there were also concerns about confusion and lack of understanding of the new system. Additionally, some argued that the system still didn't adequately represent minority groups.

Another example is Australia, which has had a preferential voting system in place for their federal elections since 1918. Under this system, voters rank their candidates in order of preference and if no candidate receives an absolute majority (more than 50% of the vote), the candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated and their voters' second choices are redistributed until one candidate has a majority.

The preferential voting system has been lauded for its ability to elect a candidate that is more widely acceptable to voters, rather than just the candidate who receives the most first choice votes. However, it has also been criticized for leading to a two-party system and marginalizing smaller parties and independent candidates.

Overall, it seems that switching to a new voting system can have both positive and negative effects on elections. It is important for governments to carefully consider the potential impact of a new system and educate voters ahead of time to ensure a smooth transition.