This simple election reform gives better choices to voters - and especially veterans
By Eric Bronner and Todd Connor, Oct. 2, 2024, Kansas City Star Eric Bronner and Todd Connor are co-founders of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Veterans for All Voters.
Alaska already uses a system that gives an advantage to problem-solvers and discourages mudslinging politicians. Bigstock
Americans are increasingly walking away from partisan politics. Can you blame them? Heightened polarization, flailing trust in our institutions and disillusionment with major party platforms and candidates are driving this trend toward political independence. In 2023, according to Gallup, 43% identified as independents — an all-time record — while only 27% each registered as Democrats or Republicans. Among the veteran community, that number rises to more than half.
But political independence comes at a cost. In many states, independent voters are barred from participating in party primaries — which are often the only consequential elections in a given district or state. In 2024, 84% of Congressional seats are uncompetitive (either solidly Republican or Democratic), meaning the winner of those races isn’t determined in the general election, but rather in the primary. Gerrymandering, geographic self-sorting — where there is less physical overlap today between the parties than ever before — and our outdated electoral systems are the major culprits. As a result, Election Day in November has become more of a formality than a real contest.
This recent and increasing shift in competition to exclusionary party primaries has a particularly undemocratic effect: disenfranchising much of the voting population. How can we stand by, cycle after cycle, and refuse to give registered independents a voice in elections for leaders who are supposed to represent them? This is especially visceral for veterans, who identify as independent voters at higher rates than their civilian counterparts. In many states, independent voters are barred from fully participating in primary elections — elections which too often determine the very officials who, in turn, vote on national defense and the use of military force. The problems with our electoral system don’t end there. Closed party primaries, and their pick-one (or “first-past-the-post”) voting methods, feature chronically low turnout and deeply unrepresentative electorates. And they only require candidates to secure a plurality versus a majority of votes, allowing some candidates to win with 30% or less.
This flawed setup incentivizes candidates to prioritize turning out their base voters over broad coalition-building. It benefits candidates who disregard the majority of their constituents in favor of their friendly few. And it helps facilitate the election of more extreme candidates to state legislatures, governor’s mansions and Washington, D.C., leading to widespread polarization and an inability for our leaders to serve the people properly. There is a better way, a commonsense reform that re-enfranchises Independents and helps restore genuine competition to American elections: Final Four Voting. Here’s how it works: Final Four Voting replaces partisan primaries with a single open contest, where all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, compete against one another. All eligible voters, regardless of party affiliation or the lack thereof, are welcome to participate. The four candidates who earn the most votes advance to the general election. (A slight variation of this system, Final Five Voting, advances five candidates to the general election instead of four.)
The general election is decided by an instant runoff, where voters are allowed to rank their candidates in order of preference. The winning candidate is the one who secures 50%, which can include second, third and fourth choice votes. Final Four Voting isn’t a silver bullet, but it addresses many of the worst issues plaguing our politics. It gives all voters more choice, more voice and more power in our elections. It requires candidates to secure a majority of votes rather than a small subset. And it increases civility in campaigns by forcing candidates to compete for the second choice of their opponents’ voters. Bridge-builders and problem solvers win under this system, not mudslingers and show horses.
Most importantly, Final Four Voting rightfully includes all voters in our elections. This isn’t just a pipe dream. This system is already used in Alaska, and it’s on the ballot for consideration in Nevada, Idaho, Colorado and Arizona this year, along with bipartisan legislation pending in Wisconsin. Conversely in Missouri, a ballot measure this year — Amendment 7 — would prohibit the ranking of candidates by limiting voters to a single vote per candidate or issue. In 2021, we co-founded Veterans for All Voters, an organization dedicated to building a community of veterans to advocate for election innovations. We’re grounded in a shared mission of unlocking competition, reducing polarization and empowering all veterans and all voters to fully participate in our elections.
Join us at veteransforallvoters.org Eric Bronner and Todd Connor are co-founders of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Veterans for All Voters.
