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Simulating alternate voting systems

PrimerRecommended by 2 HN commenters across 2 months, 2020–2026
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explainer · general · evergreen · 2020–2026 on HN

Primer uses simulations to compare voting systems such as first-past-the-post, approval, ranked choice and others. It shows how each system behaves and can be manipulated, with links to further voting theory resources.

HN commenters link it to explain why plurality voting produces two-party systems and how ranked-choice voting suffers spoiler effects.

10 comments from Hacker News

@awb2022-10 · in “Show HN: RankedVote – SurveyMonkey but focused on ranked-choice voting”

> and then we promised to not game the system That's the key point. Unfortunately, all known voting systems can be gamed. Here's an interesting video that explains how they can be manipulated: ▶ this video

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@esarbe2020-12 · in “Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor in China”

Let's see. Canada currently has 338 MPs and over 80% (!) of those (278) belong to one of two majority parties. So yes, in theory Canada has a multi party system. In practice this multi party system is severely damaged by the effects of the FPTP voting system. There are mathematical reasons for FPTP to result in two party systems. [0] explains it pretty well. There don't have to be deeper underlying stuctural reasons for the dichotomy. So to combat two party systems, replacing FPTP with an alternative voting system seems a pretty reasonable step. [0] ▶ this video

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@amavect2026-08 · in “Grand jury declines to indict Ohio man charged with destroying Flock camera”

A reminder to support approval voting, star voting, and proportional voting so we can end the 2 party system. ▶ this video link

@amavect2026-04 · in “Iran demands Bitcoin fees for ships passing Hormuz during ceasefire”

Yet another reminder that we need approval voting, or even STAR voting, for single-winner elections. ▶ this video link link

@amavect2026-03 · in “90% of crypto's Illinois primary spending failed to achieve its objective”

>imo proof that ranked choice is absolutely needed Ranked choice still succumbs to a spoiler effect. link ▶ this video Approval voting works better and simpler, and STAR voting works even better though with more complexity. link