Herman Rubin wrote:
> Proportional representation for electors will never come,
> because it will greatly weaken the party machinery. Both
> parties prefer the situation where one goes after the votes
> of large states, or swing states, writing off the ones
> which cannot be won. With even proportional division
> within a state, there is no point in trying for Texas or
> California as against spending a part of that money on
> Delaware or Wyoming.
>
> If it were really done, third parties would gain
> significant numbers of electors, and this could throw the
> decision into the House. This is what happened in 1824.
Not necessarily. If the electors used a transferable vote PR system such as
STV (single transferable vote) then third party candidates would be eliminated
and their electroral votes transfer in proprtion to their preferences. This
would allow more people to vote for a third party candidate without
prejudicing their second preference candidate (if they have one). Of course,
it would weaken the party machines even further.
Thom
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