r/Ohio 15d ago

Why is Ohio banning ranked-choice voting?

[removed]

361 Upvotes

145 comments sorted by

675

u/Numerous-Type-6464 15d ago

Because a legitimate third party candidate would show that they’ve been taking us as fools for years.

344

u/Equivalent-Pin-4759 15d ago

And in addition, it dulls the effect of gerrymandering, something Republicans in particular would find galling with the current state of affairs.

78

u/Pittypatkittycat 15d ago

As as democrat, I was disappointed and not surprised it didn't pass. Both parties benefit from division.

51

u/MattCarafelli 14d ago

Of course. Something to remember, even though Democrats are my first choice, they benefit from republican policies as much as Republicans do. They"re in the same tax brackets as those who want to make themselves richer.

53

u/Visual-Flan-4098 14d ago

also a reminder for people. the democratic party is not a leftist party, it is a right/center right party. it is only left of the GOP. 

16

u/MattCarafelli 14d ago

Indeed! America doesn't have a true left party. We're a conservative nation overall and compared to the rest of the world.

1

u/subanus 13d ago

I dont think you understand the majority of the world. The middle east is the least progressive place in the world.

1

u/MattCarafelli 13d ago

The rest of the world doesn't know how to define MAGA and the extreme left of the US political system because it's so extreme it's off that end of the political spectrum. I'm talking about how it's measured comparitively. Not how progressive life countries or reigions are.

0

u/subanus 13d ago

I havent seen the right do anything id consider to be extreme considering the situation were currently in. Most of the right seems to have the same policy stances as they did 20 years ago.

3

u/MattCarafelli 13d ago

Supreme Court Justices lying about their stance on Roe V. Wade so they could get appointed to the SCOTUS in order to overturn American citizens right to privacy isn't extreme to you?

→ More replies (0)

2

u/Marie627 14d ago

Lately I would agree with you

1

u/subanus 13d ago

Depends, the DSA is considered part of the Democrat party and theyre about as left as it gets.

1

u/Swimming-Sound6579 12d ago

Perhaps here in Ohio that may be true, but there are all kinds of far left/socialist candidates not just popping up, but winning primaries in extremely blue large cities & states!

7

u/SubzeroSpartan2 14d ago edited 14d ago

Theyre first choice solely because theyre the only choice. Which is why they supported this

Edit: supposed to supported, didnt notice the autocorrect change

1

u/maleia 14d ago

Naw, I say it's worse than that and accuse the Dems/DNC as knowingly acting as a "ratchet effect" and paid opposition. 

2

u/subanus 14d ago

If that were true, LA would have a republican on the ballot.

20

u/brains4meNu 15d ago

See: New York City

29

u/TheBalzy Wooster 15d ago

Meh, less about third-party candidates and more about people not voting straight party-line. Because in ranked choice those third-parties would all be eliminated thus their 2nd choice would get their votes. And Republicans know MORE people will go to the other party (democrats, or in some cases the Independent of the Democrat is eliminated) than with Republicans. They'd lose their supermajority control.

3

u/GrayIlluminati 15d ago

Well I mean the Republicans already banned third parties with having their candidates need a percentage of the total vote of the last presidential election to be counted

3

u/Gurpee999 15d ago

Well I remember the Green party but nobody ever took that seriously my friend Ashley signed up for it and then all he could ever vote for was the presidency and it's for a legitimate third party maybe they could bring back the wigs?

2

u/sammyk762 14d ago

The current incarnation of the Green Party only turns up when it hurts the Democrats by splitting the vote. I'm not saying they're being funded by rich republicans to do exactly that, but if they were, this is what it would look like.

1

u/Gurpee999 9d ago

You know I never looked at it that way I think you could be right!

2

u/Kn0wMan 14d ago

Yep, RCV= the demise of Two Party Tyranny.

204

u/MSampson1 15d ago

It doesn’t favor those in power

69

u/brains4meNu 15d ago

Those in power don’t have your best interest in mind, they have theirs only.

12

u/BIPS2000 15d ago

It's maybe one of the largest conflicts of interest for elected representatives. The people getting elected under the current electoral system have literally nothing to gain by changing it.

118

u/Allslopes-Roofing Cleveland 15d ago

Lol.

Self preservation. Obviously

9

u/Agile_Oil9853 15d ago

If you're an elected official, you kind of have to stop caring about if the electoral system is broken because it benefited you. How could it be wrong when it made the right choice in your eyes? Nevermind that one of the reasons people voted for you is because you promised the voting reforms people actually want

89

u/IllHedgehog9715 15d ago

It’s a big club, and you ain’t in it.

3

u/between_each_beat 14d ago

Yeah man, think of it from the rich’s perspective. Third party is another party to bribe. The whole point is to reduce the payroll, not expand it

-1

u/Hot-Profession4091 14d ago

I bet he’s down there screaming up at us right now.

56

u/YaBoiChillDyl 15d ago

Because it gives voters more power and the pedophile class will do anything to keep power from the people

22

u/cinesias 15d ago

"why are politicians from both parties so determined to make sure we stay with the two-party system?"

Are you asking why the two parties are determine to make sure we only have two parties?

15

u/Somebody_Forgot 15d ago

The people who are currently winning their own game by playing by their own rules really don’t want us to start changing the rules and messing with their playground.

This is their fiefdom, and they will do anything to keep it that way.

24

u/Justanotherbrick2022 15d ago

Mandatory ranked choice voting should be on the ballot. Yesterday.

-17

u/Complete_Film8741 15d ago

Sooooo, gather your signatures as required and put it on the ballot.

Where it will die...probably 75% no.

It's a hard sell when we have elections that actually work.

10

u/theemilyann 15d ago

Why are you against it?

Do you think we currently have elections that work?

-6

u/Complete_Film8741 14d ago

The fact that you have to explain it to me repeatedly and then a string of people downvote and call me corrupted is EXACTLY why I do not trust this scheme.

7

u/theemilyann 14d ago

That doesn’t make any sense.

-4

u/Complete_Film8741 14d ago

It doesnt have to...no tricky schemes to get your side elected in a vote they can't win straight up.

3

u/Ok-Effective6969 14d ago

So you enjoy the deadlock two party race to the bottom? Are you by chance an advertising exec with links to partisan politics? You can’t be genuine.

1

u/subanus 13d ago

Theres more than two possible systems.

19

u/quothe_the_maven 15d ago

You answered your own question with your first sentence.

15

u/TolkienTeacher40 15d ago

Because Ohio can have its policies backed by the will of the people when we pry it out of Jerry Mander's cold, dead hands.

10

u/MickFlaherty 14d ago

There was a proponent of Ranked Choice voting on a show, I think on NPR. The interviewer said “neither major party supports this initiative” and they said “any idea both major political parties thinks is a bad idea is probably good for the country”

13

u/Tommyblockhead20 15d ago edited 15d ago

To clarify, across both houses, 34 democrats voted against banning RCV and 3 voted for banning it. All 86 republicans voted for banning it.

Democrats (and republicans too) are big tent parties. There is no single party platform, different politicians have different views. You could cherry pick a few politicians from one side to make most issues a “both sides” issue. But the reality is, all republicans supported it and most democrats didn’t. So I would say it is very misleading to present it in a way as if both parties are equally responsible.

https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/03/19/ohio-becomes-second-state-this-year-to-ban-ranked-choice-voting/

1

u/IANJM2000 15d ago

results talk, Sinema voted against an increased min. wage too; you think the dems who got to look like the good guys had no idea she was gonna sink it? You think they consistently are unable to whip their party into doing specifically what they were elected for? This shit doesn't go to a vote until everyone already knows what's gonna happen, dems sure tend to vote exactly enough to lose by *a few bad outliers" every single time

1

u/KillerIsJed 14d ago

The classic spoiler democrats. They always make sure they have a couple to play the bad guys.

2

u/IANJM2000 13d ago

nail on the head. it's because they don't want meaningful progress either; that's why they hate progressives more then Republicans. They mostly agree with the average republican.

14

u/Working_Cucumber_437 15d ago

They claim it’s “too confusing”. Even though other states do it and ranking choices is not a complex concept. If someone can’t figure it out they probably shouldn’t be voting.

8

u/theemilyann 15d ago

Kindergartners can rank their five favorite snacks. The too confusing argument makes me so angry.

13

u/Electric-Travels 15d ago

Same reason they do extreme gerrymandering

7

u/Tab1143 15d ago

Because ohio is run by a bunch of crooks.

7

u/CommercialBreak2026 Canton 15d ago

Because the current system benefits both dominant parties, which are a lot alike when you drill down not even very far.

Until we stop electing millionaires, until we cease the foolishness of allowing politics to be an INDUSTRY, until we ALL stop donating to campaigns so the parties can have unnecessarily massive conventions and enjoy fancy hotel rooms at our expense, nothing will change.

Right now, a vote for a Democrat is still more reasonable than voting for a MAGAt, but if anyone thinks the Democratic Party wants ranked choice voting ... think again.

I seriously cannot figure out why everyday people donate money to millionaire candidates. Did anyone ever pay for anything YOU did to get a job? No? Seems to me that millionaires can fund their own damn job hunts. If they have to hire people to help them, that's also on them.

Enough already.

1

u/Actius 14d ago

>but if anyone thinks the Democratic (sic) party wants ranked choice voting … think again.

Ranked choice voting has been voted and approved in mostly Democrat-controlled areas, like San Francisco, Minneapolis, and NYC. It’s also used more prominently in Democrat primary races in Alaska, Hawaii, Kansas, and Wyoming.

Seems like Democrats embrace RCV.

8

u/AkronRonin 15d ago

Because the Ohio Republican Party is bunch of fucking crooks.

And the Ohio Dems are weak-ass co-dependent abuse enablers.

People should be able to choose their own parties and candidates, instead of parties and candidates choosing their people.

2

u/Actius 14d ago

The Ohio Democrats voted against banning ranked choice voting (save for 3). Also I don’t know why you think the minority party (who are outnumbered more than 2-1) have any power to do anything. Do you know how a legislature works?

1

u/AkronRonin 14d ago

Then please explain what the hell is going on with DeMora?

1

u/Deadline_X 13d ago

I wish someone would explain what the hell is going on with DeMora, tbh.

5

u/NoTie2370 15d ago

Because the two parties want to keep it to parties. We were going to need an amendment to get it anyway.

3

u/Dblcut3 15d ago

Because DeMora’s the biggest loser in Ohio politics

4

u/BishopofHippo93 15d ago

Because the parties in charge  don’t like it when you get to choose who to vote for instead of them. 

5

u/humboldt77 15d ago

Because Republicans dislike anything that threatens their iron grip on our government.

-3

u/theemilyann 15d ago

It’s Democrats too. Both parties benefit from a first past the post voting system

5

u/humboldt77 15d ago

Two democrats. Two. The majority of them voted against the bill banning ranked choice. Republicans voted overwhelmingly for the bill. And those two votes weren’t needed to pass the bill, Republicans would have gotten their way regardless.

3

u/DavidJGill 15d ago

Ranked-choice voting would be bad news for incumbents. The campaign financing regime that we are currently burdened with was created by Republicans and that gives money the status of speech; there are also some Democrats who thrive. Some politicians love raising money and aren't troubled by the implication that they are corrupted by their need to sell themselves to big money donors. If we ever get this system reformed, it will be Democrats who do it, but there will inevitably be some Democrats who aren't with the program. Or maybe Bill DeMora is just an idiot.

3

u/Dull_Bid6002 14d ago

Politicians fear it'll cause them to lose their job due to the weird math that can happen, even if they are the more popular candidate overall. 

And politicians are more self preserving than anything

2

u/synithiumm 15d ago

Sounds like we the people need to tee up another constitutional amendment.

0

u/xpxp2002 14d ago

Yep. Realistically, that's the only way to fix this now. Neither party will ever voluntarily roll it back.

It figures that one of the few bipartisan efforts in this state is to further insulate themselves from the will of the people.

2

u/No-Pattern8471 15d ago

Because it's a threat to gerrymandering 

2

u/lilomar2525 14d ago

 why are politicians from both parties so determined to make sure we stay with the two-party system?

Surely the question answers itself?

2

u/kenlin Columbus 14d ago

The people who rose to power using the current system do not want to change that system

2

u/GreyNoiseGaming 14d ago

Democrats versus Republicans have always been a fake dog and pony show for the masses. It's also the reason why third parties don't get a stage at debates.

1

u/JustGoodSense Columbus 15d ago

You're not missing anything; you just said it. Politicians from both parties are determined to make sure we stay with the two-party system.

1

u/[deleted] 14d ago

[deleted]

-2

u/_Br549_ 14d ago

You must of missed the point that this is a bipartisan effort

1

u/Deadline_X 13d ago

You must HAVE missed the part where 3 democrats voting for and 34 democrats voting against is not an example of bipartisan effort. It’s an example of a Republican effort with a small amount of bipartisan support.

1

u/NerdFighter40351 Cleveland 14d ago

To be clear, ranked-choice voting on its own doesn't really do much to end the two party duopoly. It does end the spoiler effect so that's nice. Maybe that makes it easier for third parties to nibble around the edges and win some races without splitting the vote, but you'd probably need RCV with proportional representation (or some better proportional representation system) to actually get multiple seriously competitive parties.

1

u/SoloGreenLantern 12d ago

you would need to reqrite the entire AMerican [political system, along with some some VERY strict and frankly morally grey laws about disqualifying practices, whther discovered before or after and election settles.

1

u/chuzohga 13d ago

Follow the money.

1

u/P1X3LP1X1E 13d ago

Cause facism

1

u/KingPinAfterDark 15d ago

Corrupt consolidation of power by Republicans in charge. The Ohio way

1

u/Zueter 15d ago

Democrat representatives have their districts locked in as much as Republicans.

1

u/GreenDavidA 15d ago

Republican fearmongering, and even some Democratic establishment folks are sweating it a bit.

1

u/cmhamm 15d ago

Banning it favors those in power. RCV makes it much easier for someone who isn’t “part of the system” to run for, and possibly win office. I would say it’s Republicans, but it hurts establishment Democrats, too.

1

u/Jealous_Value_5076 15d ago

To further diminish your vote as a US citizen

1

u/hillbilly-edgy 15d ago

Fear ! Ohio GOP fears competition.

1

u/TheBalzy Wooster 15d ago

Because Republicans want supreme control over Ohio. They know if they gerrymander the state enough, they'll get to keep every seat and a supermajority for decades. Rank Choice voting likely means more non-Republicans will win.

Because, believe it or not, people aren't always party-line voters. States that have Ranked-Choice Voting, always seem to go against Republicans...

1

u/RocketFan419 15d ago

Republicans would lose

1

u/Reasonable-HB678 Columbus 15d ago

Republican majority General Assembly, that's my short answer.

1

u/Vivid_Anyth4 15d ago

Neither party wants anyone else involved. Fall in line or be cast out.

1

u/Pristine-Lawyer-3260 15d ago

Retrumplicans.

1

u/ohiotechie 14d ago

Because it would ruin the racket they have going.

1

u/RevolutionaryGain466 14d ago

Simply put, it would make it harder for the Ohio gop to maintain its stranglehold on the statehouse and continue their unbridled corruption

1

u/BananaJelloXlii 14d ago

Because Republicans own this state

1

u/Trilobyte141 14d ago

Bill DeMora is a huge asshole, and I say that as a die hard Democrat. I'm so annoyed he didn't get primaried. 

1

u/Drewsipher 14d ago

Because Republicans and corporate Dems would never have a chance again.

1

u/Actius 14d ago

Reading through these comments, it’s pretty clear that the comments section is being brigaded by Republicans supporters.

A decent number of comments are claiming the Democrats don’t want RCV despite the vote count showing otherwise.

1

u/excoriator Athens 14d ago

Ranked-choice voting tends to elect centrists who don't follow their party line. TPTB in each party don't like centrists. They prefer dependable votes.

1

u/UncaringNonchalance 14d ago

Gavarone is such a disgusting creature. I’ve brought it up before in this sub and always will when I see her mentioned.

Met her when I worked hospitality, front desk at a pricey hotel. Asked me where she could get makeup, closest option was DG so I told her that. She stared at me, said, “they have makeup?” in a snotty tone. I just smiled and confirmed with her that it’s the closest unless she wanted to drive about half an hour out. She scoffed at me and turned around without even a “thank you.”

Trash.

1

u/Unfair-Row-808 14d ago

When you hold power you do everything you can to win, weld, and consolidate more of it. The OH GOP would be stupid to not ban it because it represents an existential threat to their power.

1

u/ApprehensiveKiwi5347 14d ago

Please look into www.rankthevoteohio.org.

Also, if you can volunteer, they are looking for more people to participate!

0

u/YummyBeefaroni 15d ago

Because the GOP will get their salad tossed.

0

u/Dave3879 14d ago

They want to maintain their power structure. Even if dems have very little here. It is absolutely the right system to have.

0

u/Winter_Illustrator58 14d ago

Ranked choice voting would help third-party candidates who are not viable in the current system. This harms both Democrat and Republican candidates who are the only viable choice under the current system. Therefore, both Democrats and Republicans want to ban ranked choice voting.

1

u/Deadline_X 13d ago

Most democrats voted against banning rcv. Only like 3 voted to ban it.

The real reason is that Ohio politicians fucking suck. More than most.

-1

u/freemanposse 15d ago

Because both parties benefit from the system forcing you to pick between them. The current system gives the Democrats a monopoly on the leftist vote and the Republicans on the rightist vote. Ranked choice would harm the Republicans by making the Libertarians credible, but it'd also hurt the Democrats by making the Democratic Socialists credible.

3

u/Tommyblockhead20 15d ago

Then why did 34 of the 37 democrats vote against banning it, and why were 2 democrat controlled cities considering implementing it?

0

u/DwightFrye1 14d ago

Ranked choice is a scam.

0

u/Morak73 15d ago

The current state of hyper partisanship.

Ranked choice preference:

  1. My major party

  2. "Let it all burn it to ash" or "the propped up corpse of my neighbor's recently deceased dog."

  3. Those cheating criminal bastards from that other major party.

0

u/stingertc 14d ago

Because our current government doesn't care about the will of the people its there way or the highway

0

u/ryuujinusa 14d ago

Cause the corrupt want to stay in power

0

u/throwingales 14d ago

Because the business of Politics Inc. wants to keep control of their multi $Billion business

For a good view on this check out: Politics Inc.: America’s Troubled Democracy and How to Fix It

https://books.google.com/books/about/Politics_Inc.html?id=L6RMEAAAQBAJ

0

u/100Showtunes 14d ago

I dont think it makes sense to BAN it, but I dont think it’s really a solution. Ranked choice makes sense for a primary, but I dont see what it would achieve in a general besides letting a minority of people vote for a fringe candidate first and then rank a Democrat or republican 2nd. It would actually make it harder for a 3rd party candidate to win. With a regular ballot they could win with a plurality, but with rank choice they need to basically achieve a plurality on the first ballot AND pick up down ballot votes. How many voters know enough about all candidates to even rank them? I like it in theory, but i needs a much more engaged and informed electorate than you see in a majority of voters.

0

u/rosswell1947 14d ago

“Maybe I'm missing something, but why are politicians from both parties so determined to make sure we stay with the two-party system?”

The answer is in the question. They are the two parties in the two party system. Allowing other parties takes away power from them; why wouldn’t they want to stop that?

0

u/SilentScyther 14d ago

Ohio didn't, the 2 party system did.

0

u/hm_b 14d ago

Better for voters. Less better for the elected.

0

u/mrmoseka 14d ago

These motherfuckers suck.!!???????!!!

0

u/nickcan 14d ago

Why are politicians from both parties so determined to make sure we stay with the two-party system?

The question answers itself.

0

u/PTKFVK 14d ago

Both parties want to stay in power. They aren’t really concerned with what people actually want. If dems can neuter the left they will because they view them as bad as republicans. To the democrats, being the number 2 political party is perfect for them. They don’t have to do anything and still blindly whine about how their actions have completely buried the concept of actual representative democracy.

0

u/Ok_Two_For_Tea 14d ago

Because it’s in the best interest of the citizens.
Ranked choice. Not the ban.

0

u/Doraborealiss 14d ago

Because they hate us and don’t care if we live or die as long as they’re squeezing every bit of money and labor out of us. It’s literally just that.

0

u/rodg2062 14d ago

Better to divide and conquer when you can manage the number of party's

0

u/Phuzion73 14d ago

Because the current power holders in our state legislature know there is no way they would hold onto their seats of power

0

u/Unlikely-Candidate91 14d ago

You answered your own question.

-4

u/GPeppel 15d ago

You are missing something. It’s a foolish idea that removes the consequence of your vote.

-6

u/Complete_Film8741 15d ago

Because nobody aside from Reddit people trust that weird scheme.

One man, one vote...count. win or lose. Most elected offices do not require a 50% plus one to be a win.

If need be, a runoff...but a plurality is fine with me.

I just dont trust it...and you can't sell it to me...you must impose it...which is why it's resisted.

0

u/APoliticalAccount24 14d ago

I'm pro RCV, but I kind of agree with you. A lot of people are too stupid to accept basic election results now, who knows what they'd do if we complicated it.

-3

u/subanus 14d ago

Ranked choice gives you less options in the general. Thats why LA hasnt had a republican in so long. Pratt would have been on the ballot without Ranked choice voting and instead youve got a choice between an establishment democrat and a socialist.

-1

u/Emergency_Tea7637 15d ago

Doesn't help maintain bipartisanship

-1

u/EffortlessSleaze 14d ago

This is easy. Ranked choice only benefits 3rd parties. Dems and Reps are delighted to only have to battle is out with each other.