Understanding Elected Together: A New Methodology for Voting and Representation
What is Elected Together?
Elected Together is an innovative election and representation methodology designed to reshape how we think about voting and govern ourselves. Unlike traditional voting systems, including many Ranked Choice Voting systems, that result in a winner-takes-all outcome, Elected Together provides a more equitable approach. This system results in both a majority and minority candidates being elected to the team responsible for deciding how we are going to govern ourselves.
The Failures of Our Current System
The current electoral landscape often fails to represent the populace accurately. Winner-takes-all elections disenfranchise a significant number of voters, it sidelines their preferences, their voice, and down plays their importance to our society. Additionally, gerrymandering has become a prevalent issue, creating districts that manipulate voter representation that can leave even a majority voters feeling unrepresented. Winner-takes-all elections, and form of representation, fosters polarization and hostility, producing a government that reflects division with a desire to rule, when what we need is a government that fosters a society of understanding, as we seek to decide how to best govern ourselves.
How Elected Together Creates Fair Representation
In addition to Electing a Majority and Minority Seat Holder to represent a given area, what makes Elected Together a unique form of representation is that within office those representative have a voting power divided between them in keeping with the vote given to the Majority Seat holder. Example: If the Majority Seat Holder secured 70% of the vote, they receive a voting power in their first year within office equivalent to 1.4 seats, while the minority candidate holds 0.6 seats.
Accountable to the Voters, not parties
Another unique feature of Elected Together, is that every year that their elected official are in office, voters will return to the voting booth to decide which of their representatives they want wielding their vote in the coming year.
Why Elected Together Matters
Implementing the Elected Together methodology could revolutionize our approach to democracy. By ensuring fair representation for both majority and minority voices, this system not only respects the votes cast but also encourages a more constructive political dialogue. By overcoming the inherent flaws of winner-takes-all elections, we can aspire to create a government that promoting unity rather than division.