this post was submitted on 08 Apr 2026
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Winner-takes-all voting systems tend to result in only two viable parties

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[–] manxu@piefed.social 5 points 3 days ago

It's weird how the first-past-the-post voting system emerged. You start with geographic areas that are tightly integrated and only loosely associated with the greater polity. Then the polity is integrated and it is less important to elect someone for specifically your place. Then parties are formed that represent factions of the polity instead of the place.

Once national parties are formed and geography is not the primary distinguishing factor, first-past-the-post in geographic districts makes no sense. In fact, gerrymandering is only possible because geographic districts make no sense any longer and it makes no difference to you as a voter if you are in one of them or the other. You are going to vote for party anyway.