Can Approval Voting Change American Politics For The Better? With Aaron Hamlin Of The Center For Election Science
Care More Be Better: A Podcast For Sustainable Social Impact and Regeneration
Corinna Bellizzi
5 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 25 May 2022
⏱️ 40 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Is it possible that the extreme divisiveness in our political choices can have a simple solution? In this episode, Corinna Bellizzi sits down with to Aaron Hamlin to discuss approval voting. Aaron is the Executive Director and co-founder of the Center for Election Science, a non-profit organization looking to improve the way Americans vote by implementing the approval voting method in cities nationwide. Voting is one facet of election reform where the power lies in the people. Why not create a better tool to help create a true choice of the collective? Aaron also discusses how approval voting can prevent extremism and get us closer to our ideal reality. Listen in for an insightful discussion and learn more about how our methods impact results as Aaron shares real world examples for the effectiveness of approval voting.
About Guest:
Aaron Hamlin is the Executive Director and co-founder of the Center for Election Science, a non-profit organization looking to improve the way Americans vote by implementing the approval voting method in cities nationwide. In just the past two years, Aaron and his team have worked with the communities in St Louis and Fargo to enable them to vote using approval voting. They now have a campaign underway to get approval voting on the ballot in Seattle.
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronhamlin/
Guest Website: https://www.aaronhamlin.com/
Additional Resources Mentioned:
The Center for Election Science
Discord – Election Science
Show Notes:
00:00-01:40 – Introduction
01:40-03:29 – Aaron Hamlin’s journey into politics
03:30-06:35 – How does approval voting get us closer to that reality?
06:36-08:25 – Voting method as election reform
08:26-09:15 – Municipalities where approval voting has already taken hold
09:16-13:13 – The California vote to recall Gavin Newsom
13:14-15:04 – How does approval voting guard against extremism?
15:05-21:40 – The 1991 gubernatorial election in Louisiana
21:41-23:23 – The power of the citizen
23:24-31:49 – The administration whiplash
31:50-34:10 – National presidential campaigns and voting done using approval voting?
34:11-35:16 – The downside of ranked-choice
35:17-36:51 – How you can get involved
36:52-39:47 – Conclusion
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | There are so few times when, as a citizen, that we can't be ignored. |
| 0:04.7 | And one of those few times is when we vote. |
| 0:08.5 | And we get this tool to be able to say, like, who sits in those offices, |
| 0:14.5 | decides the policies that govern our day-to-day lives or spend the large amount of tax dollars. |
| 0:20.6 | And we only get one chance to do that. And we were |
| 0:23.1 | given this highly ineffective tool. Welcome to Care More Be Better, a podcast for people like you |
| 0:30.4 | who care about the social impact of conscious companies and everyday heroes. Hear inspiring stories |
| 0:37.0 | from those who put people in planet before profit and personal gain. |
| 0:40.3 | You'll learn how you can make a difference, vote with your dollars, and get involved today. |
| 0:45.3 | Here's your host, Karina Belizzi. |
| 0:48.3 | Hello, fellow do-goaters and friends. |
| 0:52.3 | I'm your host, Karina Belizzi, an activist who is passionate about |
| 0:56.1 | social impact and building a better, more sustainable future. Every week, I invite you to care |
| 1:02.5 | a little bit more so that together we can all be a little better. Today, we're going to learn |
| 1:08.6 | about approval voting and how it could change the face of politics in America. |
| 1:13.0 | As I introduce you to Aaron Hamlin, executive director of the Center for Election Science, a not-for-profit focused on empowering people with voting methods that strengthen democracy. |
| 1:24.7 | He has written articles for Deadspin, Bust Magazine, and The Telegraph, as well as many more. |
| 1:29.3 | And he's been featured in popular mechanics, NPR, inside philanthropy, and MSNBC as an expert on voting methods. |
| 1:38.3 | Erin, welcome to the show. |
| 1:40.3 | Thanks, Krita. |
| 1:41.3 | Well, I'm glad to have you here today. |
| 1:43.3 | I would love to first just get to know what really inspired you to dive into this world of politics |
... |
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