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Self‐Reported Understanding of Ranked‐Choice Voting
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Self‐Reported Understanding of Ranked‐Choice Voting

Todd Donovan, Caroline Tolbert and Kellen Gracey
Social Science Quarterly, Vol.100(5), pp.1768-1776
08/2019
DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.12651
url
https://doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.12651View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Objectives Ranked‐choice voting (RCV) is relatively complex compared to plurality voting. We test if some voters find it more challenging. Methods We conducted surveys in RCV cities and plurality cities to assess how voters reported understanding voting instructions, and how they reported understanding election systems. Results Fewer voters reported instructions were easy to understand in RCV cities. Within RCV cities, we found little evidence of race/ethnic differences in reported understanding, but older voters reported less understanding of instructions in RCV cities and less understanding of RCV elections. Across all cities, Asians and women reported less understanding of elections generally, and education correlated with greater reported understanding. Conclusions Our evidence is not consistent with concerns about a racial/ethnic bias specific to RCV, but suggests a need for additional voter education.

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