FMU political science faculty to host electoral presentation

Francis Marion University’s Department of Political Science and Geography has been selected to present a virtual program in conjunction with the South Carolina Humanities on the virtues of ranked choice voting.

“Ranked Choice Voting: A Better Alternative?” will be held on Monday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. and be available through virtual presentation. It is one of 11 virtual programs within the South Carolina Humanities Electoral Initiative.

The South Carolina Humanities Electoral Initiative is part of a national initiative entitled “Why It Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation” administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, which will explore the history, importance and impact of the American electoral process.  

To register for this virtual event, visit https://fmarion-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEtfu-rqzMjE936nMBhjwwQjXWWFKbr6TK4.     

Ranked-choice voting is used in local elections in more than 20 U.S. cities and in statewide elections in Maine. It allows voters to indicate their order of preference for all candidates running for an elective office. 

Dr. Lauren Perez, one of the FMU Political Science faculty members that will take part in the presentation, says the event offers a great look at the machinations and implications of the American electoral process.

“Ranked choice voting is appealing because it allows voters to choose less popular candidates or parties they believe in, while simultaneously not wasting their vote or stifling the growth of additional political parties,” Perez says. “However, it does make the voting process and calculating results more complicated. It could have some interesting repercussions for our politics, including potentially reducing polarization.”

FMU Political Science faculty members Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Richard Almeida, Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Lauren Perez, and Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Dillon Tatum will provide the presentation during the virtual event.