Change the Rules, Change the Game

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The electoral system is one of the foundations of our democracy, but it is not immutable. Throughout history and in the present day, electoral systems have been changed to make society more stable and prosperous. Some voting methods encourage voters to lie when voting, candidates to divide society, and other new candidates to be discouraged. Others allow us to vote honestly without fear of losing our vote, show how much support candidates really have, motivate us to do more, encourage a plurality of views and, above all, better reflect our society. The electoral system is the skeleton that holds our collective decisions together. It's a map that helps us choose a direction when we don't know where to go next. It is the rules that determine what kind of game we play.

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At the H21 Institute, we have published a handbook for all those interested in electoral methods who want to learn how the electoral system design affects the course of elections, the strategy of candidates and voters, and even the outcome itself. What things will change if we change the rules?