Mike Ossipoff wrote: > Nader could designate, as his electors, the same people who are > Kerry's electors, instructing them to vote for Kerry. In that way, > the votes for Nader would count for Kerry. No more spoiler problem.
Wow. It seems so obvious, yet this is the first I think I've ever heard that idea. I think it's very clever; in what column was it mentioned? >From a technical standpoint I think it's interesting because it's similar to the candidate proxy method discussed a few weeks back, but can be implemented within the confines of the existing system (assuming at least some states allow identical slates of electors between different candidates). >From a purely practical standpoint of getting Bush out of office (pace any of his supporters on the list, if any) I also love it. All my vandalistic tendencies toward the existing plurality system aside, I simply don't see Kerry winning the election. If Bush is going to win anyway, I figure I might as well make a statement with my vote, and push for Nader to be a spoiler (or at least have the appearance of being one). But if a vote for Nader is a vote for Kerry, then I could easily see that motivating enough support to put Kerry over the top. It would also bring attention to the cause of election system reform in a much more positive way than my intentional spoiling would. -Bill Clark p.s. Mike, sorry to hear you'll be leaving for a while. I can appreciate needing to take a break from things every once in a while, though. Enjoy whatever you'll be doing in the meantime! -- Protest the 2-Party Duopoly: http://vote.3rd.party.xoom.org/ ---- Election-methods mailing list - see http://electorama.com/em for list info
