A new type of Democracy
Our modern democracy has always been under attack, and no one ever knew. Democracy has been around since the time of the Ancient Greeks. Since then, the system of democracy has undoubtedly evolved into many shapes and forms worldwide. The United States is considered one the most democratic nation in the world, according to most Americans.
Some Americans refuse to call the United States a democracy but rather a “Constitutional Republic.” That’s not wrong, but it’s not correct either because the United State federalist system allows for many democratic institutions. For example, you have the ability to attend your local government meetings and voice your opinion. Nevertheless, we still are a democracy; however, our American democracy doesn’t come without specific critiques that can be improved.
First is the current “winner-takes-all” system in elections we have in the United States, which is when a candidate with the most significant number of votes, despite the possibility of not having a full majority. For example, Candidate A won 40 percent of the vote, Candidate B won only 35 percent, and Candidate C won 25 percent. Overall, the results would indicate that Candidate A won the election despite having a full majority. This current system is not very democratic; how can democracy rule if 60 percent of the voters in the example didn’t want Candidate A?
Democracy requires the people to make their voice, and the majority rules; the winner-takes-all system is not democratic, but it can allow the minority to rule. Connecticut, of course, follows the winner-takes-all system.
Second is the system of closed primaries. Primaries are how candidates are chosen for a general election, Republicans will choose a Republican candidate, and Democrats will nominate a Democratic candidate. Unaffiliated voters are typically left out of this vital step in our democratic process. Around 20 states in the United States have some system that can allow unaffiliated voters to participate; broadly, this system is called an Open Primary. Connecticut is a Closed Primary state; by doing so, we are disenfranchising over a million voters from the right to vote. Unaffiliates make up nearly 41 percent of registered voters in Connecticut, which is the largest number of voters; behind them are the number of registered Democrats, making up 36 percent of registered voters. Primaries are indeed an election like a typical general election; if not, why are polling stations open, ballots available, and candidates to vote for? Therefore, a solid argument exists about Closed Primaries potentially violating our right to vote.
We have the following opportunities to improve our democracy by having Connecticut take the following steps. (1.) By passing and supporting H.B. 5133, which grants cities and towns to allow ranked-based voting. Ranked-based voting is a system where you rank your suggested candidates in the order you want them to be chosen. For example, Candidate A is ranked 2, Candidate B is ranked 3, and Candidate C is ranked 1. Since Candidate C is the first wanted candidate, your vote will go to Candidate C unless they come up short behind Candidates A & B; then Candidate C is eliminated, and your vote will transfer to your second choice. This will continue until a candidate wins the election with an absolute majority (over 50 percent) without needing a runoff election. (2.) We should switch to an Open Primary state where voters, regardless of party affiliation, can vote in the primary just like anyone else. It doesn’t have to be a typically Open Primary; it can be Democrats and Republicans are mandated to vote for their party. Everyone else has a choice or something similar across those lines. These are not radical ideas because there are examples of both of these systems domestically and internationally, and they give the people more people to participate in Democracy.
If anyone agrees with one or both of these ideas, don’t hesitate to contact your state representative or senator to support H.B. 5133 or start the discussion of Open Primaries because now, Connecticut needs to take a step up and embrace this new type of democracy.