For a while there, the electoral reform known as ranked-choice voting (or as some call it, instant runoff voting) had some momentum. The idea was that traditional first-past-the-post general elections often disenfranchise popular majorities and promote major-party hegemony along with partisan and ideological polarization. Often combined with the abolition of party primaries (replaced by nonpartisan primaries that let four or five candidates proceed to general elections), the reform idea broke into public view via successful ballot initiatives in two states (Maine and Alaska) and a variety of localities (notably New York City and San Francisco). Often, if not always, RCV has been opposed by leaders in both major political parties, who are loathe to endanger their duopoly, and backed by wealthy good-government types and those representing ideological minorities. But it’s safe to say the bitterest opponents of RCV recently have been conservative Republicans who view the system as a way to........

© Daily Intelligencer