DNC vs. RCV
by Trent England
The Democratic National Committee meets on August 15 and will consider an amendment to its rules that would prohibit the use of ranked-choice voting in its 2028 presidential primaries. This has caught some observers by surprise, since supporters of RCV are more commonly found on the political left. Yet many Democrats have opposed or questioned RCV, and many others support it only in particular settings, such as nonpartisan municipal elections.
The DNC’s concerns are likely related to two risks of RCV. One is its complexity and lack of transparency. In 2020, the DNC tried to reform the Iowa caucus process through the use of technology. The result was chaos, distrust, and delayed results. Concerns about implementing and running RCV are why Michigan election clerks unanimously opposed an RCV measure there two years ago.
Another concern may be the way RCV encourages voters to support fringe candidates and others who likely cannot win. RCV backers usually claim this as a benefit: Voters can register support for fringe candidates but then also rank mainstream candidates. Even if this feels cathartic for voters, it may be unhealthy, as it removes an incentive for moderation and coalition building. MIT research also suggests RCV may lead to more negativity in election campaigns. Parties hoping to win a general election need their members to unite behind around their nominee.
The DNC is coming under intense pressure from FairVote and other far-left groups that back RCV. Watch our website for updates on what happens when the DNC meets in August. At Save Our States, I have also written about how this conflict shows an inherent problem with the National Popular Vote interstate compact.