Approval Voting

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Have you ever found yourself staring at a ballot like it’s an IKEA assembly manual? You know you have options, but choosing one feels like trying to pick a favorite child (Sorry, Timmy, but you did eat all the cookies). Enter approval voting: the voting method that promises to make your election experience as delightful as finding and extra taco at the bottom of the bag.

There are a number of voting methods out there, and each of them has their advantage. Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) allows voters to choose multiple candidates by ranking them in the voter's preferred order. But Approval Voting is an even simpler concept: instead of selecting just one candidate, you can approve as many candidates as you like. Picture it like being at an all-you-can-eat buffet (and who doesn’t love a buffet?). You can pile your plate with everything that looks delicious, rather than just settling for that sad salad when you secretly crave the chocolate fountain.

Let’s be honest: elections can feel about as exciting as watching paint dry. But with approval voting, you get to cheer for multiple candidates! It’s like being at a concert where you can wave your glow sticks for all the acts instead of being forced to pick just one. Tired of feeling like your vote is about as effective as a screen door on a submarine? With approval voting, you can express your support for multiple candidates. It's like saying, “I’ll have a little bit of everything, thank you!” No more worrying that voting for the “wrong” candidate might accidentally lead to the election of the “even wronger” candidate.

With approval voting, candidates have to appeal to a broader audience instead of just their base. Imagine a politician trying to win over the vegan and the BBQ enthusiast simultaneously. It’s a recipe for compromise — like a taco bar where everyone leaves happy (unless someone insists on anchovies). Approval voting can lead to candidates being elected who truly represent a majority of voters. It’s like realizing that pizza is everyone's favorite food — sure, we have different toppings, but deep down, we all know cheese is king.

Then, there's always the one voter who complains, "But what if my favorite candidate doesn’t win?" Well, life is full of little disappointments, my friend. Just look at how many of your favorite TV shows have been canceled over the years. With approval voting, you get to support your favorite AND the others. It’s like watching a reality show where all the contestants win! 

Or the voter who claims, "Isn’t it just way too complicated?" Oh, please. You’ve navigated the complexities of online shopping and family group chats. Approval voting is as easy as pie (which, by the way, is also better than salad).

Why don't the Old Parties want approval voting? Well, they don't mind it as long as its only used where it won't have too much effect on their ability to retain power (e.g., school boards or city councils). They don't want it in state level (or higher) races because it might [GASP!] give a non-Old Party candidate a chance at actually doing something that they can't do; work for all of the people, not just the ones that think like they do.

But don't take my word for it; look for yourself. Just search "approval voting".

In a world where we’re constantly bombarded with options (seriously, have you seen the cereal aisle?), approval voting gives us a way to express our preferences without the stress of picking just one. It’s time to embrace the chaos, support some of our more quirky candidates, and get a little more excited about democracy. After all, wouldn’t you rather be a voter who enjoys the whole buffet rather than just nibbling on that sad salad?

So, let’s ditch the one-vote-fits-all mentality and give approval voting a chance. Who knows? You might just find yourself smiling when you leave the polls, instead of wondering how many “I Voted” stickers you need to collect to cover your shame.