Yesterday, the Republican Party in the Virgin Islands, became the First Republican State or Territorial Party, to use Ranked-Choice-Voting (RCV) in its Presidential Primary.
The 2024 Third Primary, placed National attention on RCV: like CBS News, the Virgin Islands Republican Party Executive Director, and Maine’s Democratic Secretary of State, all speaking Positively about RCV.
Trump Defeated Nikki Haley, 74%-26%, in the RCV Count.
RCV improved the Virgin Islands Presidential Primary by Preventing “zombie votes”, Votes for Candidates who had already dropped out. 11% of Virgin Islands Voters picked a Withdrawn Candidate, like Ron DeSantis or Chris Christie, as their First choice. But, Thanks to RCV, 74% of those Voters still had their Vote Count for an Active Candidate, in future Rounds of RCV.
Compare that to New Hampshire’s Primary last month, where over 5,500 Republicans saw their Votes “wasted” on Dropped-Out-Candidates, whose Names were still on the Ballot.
Additionally, if more States and Territories used RCV, more Candidates would’ve been able to Stay in this year’s Presidential Race, allowing Voters to decide among the Full Field, instead of Party Elites pushing Candidates out lest they “Play Spoiler” or “Split-the-Vote.” With RCV, Voters can Identify a Consensus, Majority Nominee in a Multi-Candidate Field.
The Virgin Islands GOP Primary, is just the latest use of RCV for Nominations. Republicans in: Indiana, Virginia, and Utah, and have All used RCV in recent years to Nominate Winning Candidates in Key Races.
Democrats in Five States used RCV in their 2020 Presidential Primaries. Voters engaged at High Rates, and No Votes were Wasted.
As RCV grows in Popularity, I expect even more places to follow the Virgin Islands’ Lead by using it.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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